Compare towns

Dedham vs Hampton vs Meredith vs Foxborough

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 highest household income ($129k).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

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.

MeasureDedhamHamptonMeredithFoxborough
People
Population
25,237Highest
16,426
6,758Lowest
18,615
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
42.4±1.9Lowest
9% above U.S.
Hampton and Meredith 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%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
22%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Foxborough 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%
30.9%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$95,233±$9k
18% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
$115,833±$9k
43% above U.S.
Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$480,100±$48kLowest
44% above U.S.
$606,300±$28k
82% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$1,149±$304Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,843±$70
30% above U.S.
Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$6,813
118% above U.S.
$5,006Lowest
61% above U.S.
$7,275
133% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±13.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 min
10% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith and Hampton 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 #31 of 120 in NH #62 of 120 in NH #138 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Foxborough
High school in town Dedham High Winnacunnet High School Inter-Lakes High School Foxborough High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4
10.1Lowest
11.1
11.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.