What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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.

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

Measure	Alton	Dedham
People
Population	5,994Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kLowest 41% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
	Dedham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,400±$37kLowest 29% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,042±$182 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	Dedham
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.