Compare towns
Newcastle vs Ogunquit vs Dedham vs Alna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newcastle has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
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 | Newcastle | Ogunquit | Dedham | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,913 |
1,379 |
25,237Highest |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±7 27% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
40.7±10.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
32.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,868±$33kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$93,125±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,000±$41k 20% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$367,400±$55kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$81 4% below U.S. |
— | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,088±$176Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,256 36% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,667Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.8%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±70.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.