Compare towns
Upton vs Natick vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 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 | Natick | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
36,873Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Upton and Dedham 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% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Upton 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% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Natick 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 |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Upton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Natick and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Natick and Upton 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Natick | Dedham |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Natick High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.