What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).

West Newbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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	West Newbury
People
Population	25,237Highest	4,591Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA	49.5±3Highest 24% above MA
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	West Newbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	21.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%	64.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and West Newbury 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	$179,500±$27kHighest 73% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA	$808,200±$47kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,675±$674Lowest 5% below MA
	Dedham and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Lowest 32% above MA	$9,240Highest 54% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%	80.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	West Newbury 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%	1.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	West Newbury 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	#86 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Pentucket
High school in town	Dedham High	Pentucket Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.6Highest
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.