Compare towns
Exeter vs Northbridge 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Northbridge | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
16,458 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% 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 | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Northbridge | Dedham |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Northbridge High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.8 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.