Compare towns
Sutton vs Dedham vs Lyndeborough vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Sutton | Dedham | Lyndeborough | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,239 |
25,237Highest |
1,616Lowest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Madison and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,556±$256 10% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,652 145% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Lyndeborough 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Dedham | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.