Compare towns
Northampton vs Dedham vs Westborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Westborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Northampton | Dedham | Westborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,962Highest |
25,237 |
21,944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+18%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
38.8±1.6Lowest 3% below MA |
| Dedham and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$141,944±$12kHighest 37% above MA |
| Westborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$685,300±$31kHighest 22% above MA |
| Westborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,106±$151Highest 20% above MA |
| Westborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$9,983Highest 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
40.9%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 26% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±3.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Westborough and Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #21 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Dedham | Westborough |
| High school in town | Northampton High | Dedham High | Westborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.