Compare towns
Dedham vs Hope vs Springfield
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 ($111k).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Hope | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
1,748 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Hope 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% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hope 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% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Springfield 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. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Hope 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 |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942 26% above U.S. |
$3,842Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Springfield 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 | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| 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.