Compare towns
Dedham vs Hampton Falls 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).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
2,328Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Hampton Falls 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% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 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% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hampton Falls School District | Middleton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.