What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carver has the most affordable homes ($434k 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	Carver	Dedham
People
Population	11,712Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.5Highest 15% above MA	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA
	Carver and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Carver and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,250±$23kLowest 12% below MA	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$434,200±$21kLowest 23% below MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,827±$345Lowest 4% above MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
	Dedham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,455Lowest 8% above MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	13.9%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Carver 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	#237 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Carver	Dedham
High school in town	Carver Middle/High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	10.4Highest
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.