What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

Brewster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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	Brewster
People
Population	25,237Highest	10,420Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA	59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA	$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average
	Dedham and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA	$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA
	Brewster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA
	Dedham and Brewster 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	$4,397Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brewster and Dedham 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%	6.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	21 minLowest 28% below MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.3%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Brewster 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	#160 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Brewster
High school in town	Dedham High	None in town
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.