Compare towns
Dedham vs Jay vs Hope
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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Jay | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656 |
471Lowest |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Jay and Dedham 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 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%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hope and Dedham 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% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Hope 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. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above 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±$182Lowest 14% 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 | $3,942Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Hope 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Hope Public Schools |
| 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.