What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k 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	Wolcott
People
Population	25,237Highest	16,279Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.	44.4±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Dedham and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wolcott and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Wolcott 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.	$110,850±$10kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Dedham and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,464±$913Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Dedham and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.	$5,799Lowest 86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.8%±24.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Wolcott 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%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 282 in MA	#76 of 149 in CT
School district	Dedham	Wolcott School District
High school in town	Dedham High	Wolcott High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	10.1Lowest
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.