Compare towns
Webster vs Dedham vs Whitman vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Webster | Dedham | Whitman | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
25,237Highest |
15,295Lowest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
| Dedham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
| Dedham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$4,654 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Clinton 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Dedham | Whitman-Hanson | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Dedham High | None in town | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.