Compare towns

Dedham vs Dummerston vs Middlesex

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 kids (23.8% under 18).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

MeasureDedhamDummerstonMiddlesex
People
Population
1,656Lowest
2,090Highest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±2.2Highest
20% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
Dedham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.8%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dedham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,442±$18kHighest
38% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kLowest
26% above U.S.
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
Dedham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,400±$33k
7% above U.S.
$335,300±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
Middlesex and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,422±$607Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$1,333±$359Lowest
6% below U.S.
Dedham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,942Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13%±85.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dummerston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
9.3%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Dedham Public Schools Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.