What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Dedham has the most affordable 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	Bedford	Dedham
People
Population	14,727Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Dedham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bedford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bedford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,400±$23kHighest 66% above MA	$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA	$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,918Lowest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#7 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford	Dedham
High school in town	Bedford High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.