Compare towns
Dedham vs Northbridge vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Northbridge | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
16,458 |
9,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville 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 MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Northbridge 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 24% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Plainville 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Northbridge | Plainville |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.