What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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	Cumberland	Dedham
People
Population	36,820Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±1.2Lowest 12% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
	Dedham and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,522±$8kLowest 46% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
	Dedham and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$109Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#18 of 38 in RI	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland	Dedham
High school in town	Cumberland High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	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.