Compare towns
Dedham vs Northbridge vs Belgrade
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).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Northbridge | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
16,458Highest |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Belgrade 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% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Belgrade 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$88,338±$13kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Northbridge 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. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Belgrade 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade and Northbridge 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Northbridge | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.