Compare towns
Middlesex vs Dedham vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Dedham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
25,237Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dedham | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.