What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somerset has the most affordable homes ($419k 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	Somerset
People
Population	25,237Highest	18,298Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA	47±2.2Highest 18% above MA
	Somerset and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Somerset and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Somerset and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest MA: 47.3%	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Somerset 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	$112,677±$6kLowest 8% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA	$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 32% above MA	$4,977Lowest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Somerset 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 MA: 10%	4.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 282 in MA	#132 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset
High school in town	Dedham High	Somerset Berkley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.6Highest
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.