What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bowdoinham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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	Bowdoinham
People
Population	1,656Lowest	3,142Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME	51.9±13.1Highest 16% above ME
	Bowdoinham and Dedham 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%	17.5%±6.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.4%±6.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Bowdoinham and Dedham 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%	43.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dedham and Bowdoinham 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	$108,479±$21kLowest 45% above ME
	Dedham and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME	$405,500±$105kHighest 37% above ME
	Bowdoinham and Dedham 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	$2,958Lowest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Bowdoinham and Dedham 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%	13.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	93.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	27 minLowest 10% above ME
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	22%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bowdoinham 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	—	#73 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.