What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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	Berlin
People
Population	25,237Highest	9,383Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6 15% above U.S.	44.6±2.8 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Berlin 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%	20.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Berlin 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%	14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.	$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.	$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Berlin 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%	15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 282 in MA	#108 of 120 in NH
School district	Dedham	Berlin School District
High school in town	Dedham High	Berlin Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	8.2Lowest
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.