What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).

Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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	Lenox	Dedham
People
Population	5,079Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA
Kids under 18	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
	Dedham and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,299Lowest 12% below MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 22% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Lenox 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	#90 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Lenox	Dedham
High school in town	Lenox Memorial High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.6Lowest	10.4Highest
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.