What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dayton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Dayton	Dedham
People
Population	2,313Highest	1,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME	46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME
	Dedham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Dedham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	49.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dayton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME	$111,442±$18kLowest 49% above ME
	Dayton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME	$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME
	Dayton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME
	Dedham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,872Lowest 28% above ME	$3,942Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4%	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Dayton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%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	31 minHighest 26% above ME	30 minLowest 22% above ME
Work from home	16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Dayton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Dayton Public Schools	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.