What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Shrewsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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	Shrewsbury
People
Population	25,237Lowest	38,876Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA	40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%	65.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Shrewsbury 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	$139,302±$11kHighest 34% above MA
	Shrewsbury 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 18% above MA	$592,300±$20kLowest 5% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA	$2,116±$98Highest 20% above MA
	Shrewsbury 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	$6,923Lowest 16% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	44.2%±6.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Shrewsbury 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.3%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 282 in MA	#30 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Shrewsbury
High school in town	Dedham High	Shrewsbury High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	14.4Highest
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.