What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).

Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).

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	Westminster
People
Population	25,237Highest	8,374Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA	48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA
	Westminster 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%	21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Westminster 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%	26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Westminster 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%	45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA	$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average
	Dedham and Westminster 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	$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA	$1,843±$268Lowest 5% above MA
	Dedham and Westminster 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	$4,973Lowest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%	60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Westminster 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%	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 282 in MA	#112 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Ashburnham-Westminster
High school in town	Dedham High	Oakmont Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	13.6Highest
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.