What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).

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	Wellfleet
People
Population	25,237Highest	4,404Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA	58.4±4.1Highest 46% above MA
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	14.4%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Wellfleet 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%	35.3%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%	64.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Wellfleet 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	$117,938±$27kLowest 13% above MA
	Dedham and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA	$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA
	Dedham and Wellfleet 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	$4,862Lowest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%	9.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.7%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wellfleet 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	—
School district	Dedham	Wellfleet
High school in town	Dedham High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	—
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.