What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

Devens has the highest household income ($189k).

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	Devens
People
Population	25,237Highest	1,723Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA	48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA
	Devens and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest MA: 47.3%	21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA	$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA
	Devens and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA	$556,800±$96kLowest about the MA average
	Dedham and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA
	Dedham and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 32% above MA	$5,556Lowest 7% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%	85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Devens and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%	25.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Devens 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	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.