Compare towns
Marlow vs Dedham vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Marlow | Dedham | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
25,237Highest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$86,607±$12kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 87% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,558Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Dedham | Lempster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.