What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	25,237Highest	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S.
	Dedham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham 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 U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Dedham	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Dedham High	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	51 photos →

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.