Compare towns
Hadley vs Upton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Hadley | Upton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
8,189 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Upton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Blackstone Valley | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
11.2Highest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.