What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	Derry
People
Population	25,237Lowest	34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Derry and Dedham 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%	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry 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.	$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S.	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Derry 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%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Derry 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	#60 of 120 in NH
School district	Dedham	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town	Dedham High	Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	13.9Highest
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.