Compare towns
Medford vs Ogunquit vs Dedham vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1942).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Waltham has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Medford | Ogunquit | Dedham | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 59,354 |
1,379Lowest |
25,237 |
64,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.9±1 8% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
34.4±1Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±1.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,540±$8kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$120,216±$7k 49% above U.S. |
| Medford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,500±$23k 127% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$748,700±$27k 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
— | $2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$2,268±$79 61% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,286 102% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,766 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #203 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medford | — | Dedham | Waltham |
| High school in town | Medford High | — | Dedham High | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.