What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

Gosnold has the shortest commute (10 min average).

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	Gosnold
People
Population	25,237Highest	31Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA	60.5±20.5Highest 51% above MA
	Gosnold 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 MA: 19.4%	0%±100Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Gosnold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	38.7%±100Highest MA: 17.9%
	Gosnold and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%	67.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	0%±63.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Gosnold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10k 24% above MA	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA	$700,000±$154kHighest 25% above MA
	Gosnold and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182 16% above MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 32% above MA	$2,667Lowest 55% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Gosnold 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%	0%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	44.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	10 minLowest 67% below MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.1%±72.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Gosnold and Dedham 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	Gosnold
High school in town	Dedham High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	—
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.