What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Cushing has the most people working from home (18.5%).

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	Cushing
People
Population	1,656Highest	1,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME	48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME
	Cushing 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%	17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham and Cushing 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%	20.5%±0.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Cushing 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%	38.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Cushing and Dedham 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	$83,500±$19kLowest 12% above ME
	Dedham and Cushing 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	$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME
	Cushing and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607Lowest 25% above ME	$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME
	Cushing and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,942Lowest 30% above ME	$3,944Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.7%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Cushing and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.7%Lowest 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	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	23 minLowest 5% below ME
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Dedham Public Schools	RSU 13
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.