What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newburyport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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	Newburyport
People
Population	25,237Highest	18,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA	49.8±2.9Highest 25% above MA
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.9%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Newburyport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.4%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Newburyport 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	67%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Newburyport 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 24% above MA	$139,625±$21kHighest 34% above MA
	Newburyport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA	$834,000±$37kHighest 48% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,592±$221Lowest 10% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Lowest 32% above MA	$7,944Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	46.4%±9.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest MA: 10%	5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	28.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 282 in MA	#56 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Newburyport
High school in town	Dedham High	Newburyport High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	10.3Lowest
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.