What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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	Salem
People
Population	25,237Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
	Dedham and Salem 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	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Salem 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%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem 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	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Salem
High school in town	—	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.