What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

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	Bowdoin
People
Population	1,656Lowest	3,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME	44.3±10Lowest about the ME average
	Dedham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%	19.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%	14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Dedham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dedham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME	$91,239±$13kLowest 22% above ME
	Dedham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME	$292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average
	Dedham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607 25% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,942Highest 30% above ME	$3,375Lowest 11% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Dedham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	11%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 22% above ME	32 minHighest 29% above ME
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.7%±7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bowdoin 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	—	#28 of 133 in ME
School district	Dedham Public Schools	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.