What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ansonia has the most affordable homes ($287k median).

Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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	Ansonia	Dedham
People
Population	19,033Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±1.6Lowest 3% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ansonia and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,877±$10kLowest 6% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,200±$14kLowest 14% below U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,476±$121Lowest 4% above U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,446Lowest 75% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.7%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	9.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#142 of 149 in CT	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District	Dedham
High school in town	Emmett O'Brien Technical High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	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.