Compare towns

Thompson vs Upton 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

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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.

MeasureThompsonUptonDedham
People
Population
9,337
8,189Lowest
25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Lowest
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$128,955±$10k
60% 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
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344
28% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$7,918
154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
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 #130 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA
School district Thompson School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Dedham
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Blackstone Valley Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
11.2Highest
10.4
On TownTapestry
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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.