What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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	Bedford
People
Population	25,237Highest	23,746Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.
	Bedford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Bedford 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 60% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
	Bedford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 282 in MA	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Dedham	Bedford School District
High school in town	Dedham High	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	13.5Highest
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.