What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).

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	Grafton	Dedham
People
Population	19,902Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Grafton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA	$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA
	Grafton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,117Lowest 19% above MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Grafton 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	#67 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Grafton	Dedham
High school in town	Grafton High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.