Compare towns
Hope vs Mapleton vs Middlesex 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
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Hope | Mapleton | Middlesex | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,884 |
1,943Highest |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hope and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 23% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.