What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).

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	Groton	Dedham
People
Population	11,390Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Dedham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA	$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,918Lowest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Groton 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	#39 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Groton-Dunstable	Dedham
High school in town	Groton Dunstable Regional	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.7Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.