What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Hampden
People
Population	1,656Lowest	5,161Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME	41.1±6.3Lowest 8% below ME
	Dedham and Hampden 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%	23.3%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham and Hampden 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%	18.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Dedham and Hampden 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%	47.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden 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	$112,228±$22kHighest 50% above ME
	Hampden 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±$33kHighest 20% above ME	$285,900±$33kLowest 4% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME	$1,133±$375Lowest about the ME average
	Dedham and Hampden 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	$3,863Lowest 27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	25.2%±18Highest ME: 48.4%
	Hampden 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%	83.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	22 minLowest 9% below ME
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.1%±6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden 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 133 in ME
School district	Dedham Public Schools	—
High school 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.