What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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	Maynard
People
Population	25,237Highest	10,712Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA
	Maynard 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%	16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham and Maynard 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%	64.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Maynard 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	$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA
	Dedham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA	$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average
	Dedham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Lowest 32% above MA	$8,266Highest 38% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Maynard 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%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Maynard 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	#166 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Maynard
High school in town	Dedham High	Maynard High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	9.7Lowest
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.