Compare towns
Dedham vs Putnam vs Thompson
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 expensive homes ($662k median).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Putnam | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
7,120Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Putnam 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. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Thompson 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Thompson 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dedham | — | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.