What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mount Desert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

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	Mount Desert
People
Population	1,656Lowest	1,671Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+4.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME	54.9±8.2Highest 23% above ME
	Mount Desert 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%	14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.1%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	64.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.9%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Mount Desert 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	$92,813±$9kLowest 24% above ME
	Dedham and Mount Desert 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	$522,100±$66kHighest 76% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME	$1,341±$89Lowest 18% above ME
	Dedham and Mount Desert 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	$3,512Lowest 16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.9%±31.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Mount Desert 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%	7.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	18 minLowest 27% below ME
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	19.1%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mount Desert 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	Mount Desert Public Schools
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.