Compare towns
Dedham vs Webster vs Upton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Webster | Upton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
17,748 |
8,189Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Upton 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Dedham 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 24% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Upton 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 18% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Dedham 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Webster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Bartlett High School | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.6Highest |
11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.