Compare towns
Dedham vs Mansfield vs Northampton 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 highest household income ($129k).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
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 | Mansfield | Northampton | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
23,931 |
30,962Highest |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3 6% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mansfield 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% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
$429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,439±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
$5,680 82% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Dedham | Mansfield | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Mansfield High | Northampton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
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.