What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

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	Hallowell
People
Population	1,656Lowest	2,592Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME	50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME
	Hallowell 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%	13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hallowell 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	$68,398±$10kLowest 8% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME	$295,300±$45kLowest about the ME average
	Dedham and Hallowell 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	$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME
	Dedham and Hallowell 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	$3,867Lowest 27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	37.1%±17.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Hallowell 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%	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	14 minLowest 43% below ME
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hallowell 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 02
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.