Compare towns
Middlesex vs Dedham vs Chapman
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 oldest population (median age 46.5).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k 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 | Middlesex | Dedham | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
1,656 |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17kLowest 15% 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±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Dedham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Middlesex 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dedham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.