What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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	South Berwick
People
Population	25,237Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and South Berwick 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 60% above U.S.	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and South Berwick 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and South Berwick 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	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Dedham	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Dedham High	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	13.0Highest
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.