What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k 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	Derby
People
Population	25,237Highest	12,487Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.
	Derby and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Derby 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%	21.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Derby 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%	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby 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.	$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,452±$95Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.	$5,510Lowest 77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.9%±12.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Derby 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%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Derby 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	#138 of 149 in CT
School district	Dedham	Derby School District
High school in town	Dedham High	Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	9.7Lowest
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.