What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

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	Brunswick	Dedham
People
Population	22,336Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brunswick and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$99Lowest 4% above U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 11% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Brunswick 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	#30 of 133 in ME	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10	Dedham
High school in town	Brunswick High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.