What stands out worked out from the figures below

Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k 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	Conway	Dedham
People
Population	10,141Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$314,000±$43kLowest 6% below U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,087Lowest 31% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%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	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Conway 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	#76 of 120 in NH	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Conway School District	Dedham
High school in town	Kennett High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	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.