What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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	Keene
People
Population	25,237Highest	22,939Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.	$6,812Lowest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Keene 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%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Keene 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	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Dedham	Keene School District
High school in town	Dedham High	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	12.3Highest
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.