Compare towns
Dedham vs Epping vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dedham | Epping | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
7,430Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Epping School District | Middleton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.