Compare towns
Upton vs Dedham vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 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 | Upton | Dedham | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
25,237Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Upton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Hadley 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dedham | Hadley |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Dedham High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
10.4 |
7.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.