Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Middleton 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
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Hampton Falls | Middleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
9,816 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #71 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Middleton | 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.

