What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).

Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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	Norwood
People
Population	25,237Lowest	31,542Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Norwood and Dedham 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%	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Norwood 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	$107,030±$11kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA	$651,700±$13kLowest 16% above MA
	Dedham and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA	$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA
	Norwood and Dedham 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	$6,111Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	54.3%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Norwood 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%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	54%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Norwood 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	#176 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Norwood
High school in town	Dedham High	Norwood High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.5Highest
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.