Compare towns
Plainville vs Upton vs Dedham vs Cumberland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Cumberland has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
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 | Plainville | Upton | Dedham | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,943 |
8,189Lowest |
25,237 |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197 40% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 71% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Dedham 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Plainville | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dedham | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Dedham High | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
10.4Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.