What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).

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	Dresden	Dedham
People
Population	1,645Lowest	1,656Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME	46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME
	Dresden and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Dresden and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	49.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dedham and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME
	Dedham and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME	$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$502Lowest 5% above ME	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME
	Dedham and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,500Lowest 18% below ME	$3,942Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±26Highest ME: 48.4%	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Dresden and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 35% above ME	30 minLowest 22% above ME
Work from home	6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.3%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Dedham and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 02	Dedham 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.