What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).

Calais has the most affordable homes ($390k 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	Dedham	Calais
People
Population	25,237Highest	1,713Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.	42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Dedham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Calais and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Calais and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.	$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S.
	Dedham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,408±$392Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.	$6,586Lowest 111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Calais and Dedham 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	#119 of 282 in MA	—
School district	—	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	—	None in town
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.