What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dayton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Dayton
People
Population	1,656Lowest	2,313Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME	42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME
	Dedham and Dayton 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%	20.4%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham and Dayton 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%	14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Dedham and Dayton 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%	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dayton 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±$18kLowest 49% above ME	$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME
	Dayton and Dedham 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	$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME
	Dayton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME	$1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME
	Dedham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,942Highest 30% above ME	$3,872Lowest 28% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	38%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Dayton 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%	3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	89.7%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 minLowest 22% above ME	31 minHighest 26% above ME
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Dayton 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	Dayton Public Schools
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.