What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k 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	Bethlehem	Dedham
People
Population	2,537Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem and Dedham 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	#34 of 120 in NH	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Dedham
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	10.4Highest
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.