What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2%).

Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).

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	Stark
People
Population	1,656Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S.	58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stark 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.	$71,750±$23kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Dedham and Stark 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.	$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,942Highest 26% above U.S.	$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stark and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stark 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	Stark School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.