Compare towns
Strafford vs Dedham vs Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Strafford | Dedham | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
25,237Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,726Lowest 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Dedham | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.