What stands out worked out from the figures below

Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).

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	Concord	Dedham
People
Population	44,375Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Concord and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,441±$43Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,227Lowest 132% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 120 in NH	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District	Dedham
High school in town	Concord High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	10.4Lowest
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.