What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Harpswell
People
Population	25,237Highest	5,046Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	52.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.	$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$609,700±$60kLowest 83% above U.S.
	Dedham and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,348±$53Lowest 5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.	$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	5.6% U.S.: 12.5%	5.6% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Harpswell 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	RSU 75/MSAD 75
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

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.