What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Charlton has the most affordable homes ($428k 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	Charlton
People
Population	25,237Highest	13,435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% MA: +7.4%	+2.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA	43±4Lowest 8% above MA
	Dedham and Charlton 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%	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham and Charlton 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%	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton 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 24% above MA	$117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA
	Dedham and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA	$427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,381±$415Lowest 22% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 32% above MA	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest MA: 10%	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 282 in MA	#133 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric
High school in town	Dedham High	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	9.7Lowest
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.