Compare towns
Mashpee vs Dedham vs Hull vs Barnstable Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mashpee has the most affordable homes ($562k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Hull has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
Barnstable Town has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.2%).
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 | Mashpee | Dedham | Hull | Barnstable Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,384 |
25,237 |
10,138Lowest |
49,568Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.9±1.8 40% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
49.1±1.9 23% above MA |
| Hull and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Barnstable Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
42.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Barnstable Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,299±$13k 8% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$91,982±$6kLowest 12% below MA |
| Dedham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $562,200±$29kLowest about the MA average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$602,500±$14k 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,776±$330Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,917±$127 9% above MA |
| Hull and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$3,975 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Barnstable Town and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.5%±3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Hull 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 | #100 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #189 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mashpee | — | Hull | Barnstable |
| High school in town | Mashpee Middle-High School | — | Hull High | Barnstable High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | 8.8Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.