What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carlisle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

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	Carlisle	Dedham
People
Population	5,239Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA
	Carlisle and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	87.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001Highest 140% above MA	$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
	Dedham and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,918Lowest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Carlisle and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.5%Lowest MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest 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	35 minHighest 21% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Carlisle	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.