What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Greenfield has the most affordable homes ($263k 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	Greenfield
People
Population	25,237Highest	17,664Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.6±1.6 12% above MA	44.6±2.1 12% above MA
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Greenfield 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%	23.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Greenfield 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	39.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Greenfield 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	$55,614±$7kLowest 47% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA	$263,100±$16kLowest 53% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,107±$67Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 32% above MA	$4,769Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%	63.2%±7.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Greenfield 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 MA: 10%	15.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	17 minLowest 40% below MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	11.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 282 in MA	#257 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Greenfield
High school in town	Dedham High	Greenfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	10.9Highest
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.