What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Litchfield has the most affordable homes ($485k 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	Litchfield
People
Population	25,237Highest	8,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.	43.1±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Dedham and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Litchfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S.	$162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$485,000±$18kLowest 46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S.	$2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S.
	Litchfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S.	$8,273Highest 165% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Litchfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Litchfield 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	#53 of 120 in NH
School district	Dedham	Litchfield School District
High school in town	Dedham High	Campbell High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.4Highest
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.