Compare towns
Norton vs Ogunquit vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Norton | Ogunquit | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240 |
1,379Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11k 54% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375Lowest 35% above U.S. |
— | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,929 90% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #173 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Norton High | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.