What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).

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	Grantham
People
Population	1,656Lowest	3,465Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S.	50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S.
	Grantham 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 U.S.: 22%	19.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Grantham 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 38% above U.S.	$106,403±$54kLowest 32% above U.S.
	Dedham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,400±$33kHighest 7% above U.S.	$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S.
	Dedham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,942Lowest 26% above U.S.	$7,605Highest 144% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3 U.S.: 51.1%	—
Below poverty line	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	100%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Grantham 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	—	#6 of 120 in NH
School district	Dedham Public Schools	Grantham School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.