Compare towns
Newton vs Dedham vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Newton | Dedham | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Lowest |
25,237Highest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kingston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Newton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$7,906Lowest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Dedham | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.