What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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	Pelham
People
Population	25,237Highest	14,449Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Dedham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pelham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham and Dedham 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 60% above U.S.	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.
	Pelham 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±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pelham 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	#48 of 120 in NH
School district	Dedham	Pelham School District
High school in town	Dedham High	Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	10.4
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.