Compare towns
Litchfield vs Dedham vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Litchfield | Dedham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,499Lowest |
25,237Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$18kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Litchfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,273 165% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Litchfield 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Litchfield School District | Dedham | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Campbell High School | Dedham High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.