What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k 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	Naples
People
Population	25,237Highest	3,985Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	49.8±6.8Highest 28% above U.S.
	Naples 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 U.S.: 22%	15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Naples 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 U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Naples 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 60% above U.S.	$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,941±$625Lowest 37% above U.S.
	Dedham and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.	$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Naples 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 U.S.: 12.5%	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	38 minHighest 45% above U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.7%±11.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Naples 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	#118 of 133 in ME
School district	Dedham	RSU 61/MSAD 61
High school in town	Dedham High	Lake Region High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.7Highest
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.