What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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	Amherst	Dedham
People
Population	11,861Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Amherst and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.	$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 120 in NH	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District	Dedham
High school in town	Souhegan Coop High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	10.4
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.