What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cushing has the most people working from home (18.5%).

Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

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	Cushing	Dedham
People
Population	1,460Lowest	1,656Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME	46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME
	Cushing and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±0.9Highest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Cushing and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	49.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Cushing and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,500±$19kLowest 12% above ME	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME
	Dedham and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME	$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME
	Cushing and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME	$1,422±$607Lowest 25% above ME
	Cushing and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 30% above ME	$3,942Lowest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.7%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4%	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Cushing and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 5% below ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 13	Dedham Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.