What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

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	Ayer
People
Population	25,237Highest	3,098Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA	42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA
	Dedham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer 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%	15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham and Ayer 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%	37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Ayer 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 24% above MA	$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA	$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 32% above MA	$4,911Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Ayer 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%	6.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1952Lowest 12 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%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Ayer 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	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	—
High school in town	Dedham High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	—
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.