Compare towns
Webster vs Dedham vs New Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
New Durham has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Webster | Dedham | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
25,237Highest |
2,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
46.5±7.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| New Durham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Durham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$100,194±$13kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$339,400±$27k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,417±$116 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 93% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,774Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Webster 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.