Compare towns
Washington vs Dedham vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Washington | Dedham | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
1,656 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Washington and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Dedham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.