Compare towns
Dedham vs Hanson vs Middleton vs Ogunquit
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).
Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k median).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Hanson | Middleton | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
10,660 |
9,816 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Dedham and Hanson 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. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Dedham | Whitman-Hanson | Middleton | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.