Compare towns
Madison vs Dedham vs Eaton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Eaton has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Madison | Dedham | Eaton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
25,237Highest |
501Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
59.6±14Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Eaton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
9.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
41.3%±15.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eaton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$79,063±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$377,300±$62kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074 31% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,014Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±12.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eaton 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.