Compare towns
Springfield vs Dedham vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Springfield | Dedham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
1,656Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$81,563±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$267,300±$23kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,243±$163 12% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,942Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,239 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Dedham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.