What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k 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	Norton
People
Population	25,237Highest	19,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Norton 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%	17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest MA: 47.3%	45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA	$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA
	Dedham and Norton 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	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,911±$375Lowest 8% above MA
	Dedham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 32% above MA	$5,929Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Norton 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Norton 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	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Norton
High school in town	Dedham High	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	10.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.