Compare towns
Webster vs Dedham vs Warner vs Middleton
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).
Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
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 | Warner | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,227 |
25,237Highest |
2,959 |
1,595Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.7±4 12% above U.S. |
43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Webster and Dedham 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% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$94,022±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$101,696±$8k 26% 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±$30k about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$353,100±$22k 6% above U.S. |
$312,300±$27kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,219±$123Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,500±$293 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 93% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,650 145% above U.S. |
$5,504Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleton and Dedham 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.4Lowest 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 | Dedham | Kearsarge Regional School District | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.