What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).

Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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	Avon
People
Population	25,237Highest	4,774Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA	37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Avon and Dedham 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%	17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest MA: 47.3%	30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Avon 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±$10kLowest 24% above MA	$130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA
	Avon 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	$509,600±$62kLowest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,558±$265Lowest 12% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 32% above MA	$6,627Lowest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	53.3%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest MA: 10%	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 282 in MA	#212 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Avon
High school in town	Dedham High	Avon Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	9.4Lowest
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.