Compare towns
Dublin vs Plainville vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Dublin | Plainville | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
9,943 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197 40% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dublin and Dedham 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 | — | #102 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Plainville | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.