Compare towns
Dedham vs Union vs Danforth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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 | Union | Danforth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656 |
2,663Highest |
666Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
| Danforth and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Union 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 ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Union 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 49% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
| Dedham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Danforth and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 22% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.