What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	25,237Highest	5,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA	51±6.9Highest 28% above MA
	Salisbury 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 MA: 19.4%	12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Salisbury 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	$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA	$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,770±$444Lowest about the MA average
	Dedham and Salisbury 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	$4,561Lowest 24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%	59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6% MA: 10%	5.6% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	19.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	—
High school in town	Dedham High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	—
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.