Compare towns

Dedham vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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.

MeasureDedhamSpringfieldHope
People
Population
1,656
1,122Lowest
1,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±2.2
20% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
44.6±3.1Lowest
15% above U.S.
Springfield 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%
15.1%±8Lowest
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%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hope and Springfield 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%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
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.
$100,893±$19k
25% above U.S.
$86,766±$6kLowest
7% above U.S.
Dedham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,400±$33kLowest
7% above U.S.
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$373,400±$33k
12% above U.S.
Springfield and Hope 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
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,219±$182
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
$3,942
26% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,842Lowest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13%±85.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±38.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hope and Springfield 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%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
9.3%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±10.2Highest
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
School district Dedham Public Schools — Hope Public Schools
High school 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.