What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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

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	Durham	Dedham
People
Population	4,262Highest	1,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME	46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME
	Dedham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Dedham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	49.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Durham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,181±$5kLowest 33% above ME	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME
	Dedham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,200±$34kLowest 9% above ME	$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME
	Dedham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,422±$607 25% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,781Lowest 25% above ME	$3,942Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±40.9Highest ME: 48.4%	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Durham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 05	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.