What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rockland has the most affordable homes ($246k 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	Rockland
People
Population	25,237Highest	7,035Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	49.3±6Highest 27% above U.S.
	Rockland 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 U.S.: 22%	15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rockland and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.	$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,092±$105Lowest 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.	$4,059Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rockland 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 U.S.: 12.5%	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	12 minLowest 53% below U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.1%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rockland 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	#96 of 133 in ME
School district	—	Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13
High school in town	—	Oceanside High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.7
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.