What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alfred has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).

Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alfred	Dedham
People
Population	3,125Highest	1,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±5.3Lowest about the ME average	46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME
	Dedham and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±6.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Alfred and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	49.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dedham and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,321±$18kLowest 10% above ME	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME
	Dedham and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$342,300±$38kLowest 15% above ME	$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME
	Dedham and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME
	Dedham and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,543Lowest 17% above ME	$3,942Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4%	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Alfred and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9% ME: 10.7%	9% ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983 6 yrs newer than ME	1983 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.3%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Dedham and Alfred 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	#74 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	Dedham Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.