Compare towns
Dedham vs Hudson vs South Hampton
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 people working from home (20%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Hudson | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
20,077 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Hudson 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% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Hudson 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. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Dedham 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. |
$496,800±$22kLowest 49% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
| Dedham and South Hampton 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. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
| Dedham and South Hampton 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. |
$6,892Lowest 121% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Hudson 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% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Hudson 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Dedham | Hudson | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Hudson High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
10.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.