Compare towns
Dedham vs Upton vs Otis
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Otis has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Upton | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656 |
8,189Highest |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
54.7±3.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$101,250±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Upton and Dedham 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$282,500±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,563±$734Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Otis and Dedham 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$2,263Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Otis 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.