Compare towns
Northbridge vs Middleton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Northbridge | Middleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
9,816Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Middleton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.