What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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	Chaplin
People
Population	25,237Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Dedham and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Chaplin 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%	20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Chaplin 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%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin 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±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.	$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Chaplin 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%	5.4%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.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Chaplin 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	—
School district	Dedham	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Dedham High	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	7.5Lowest
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.