What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lexington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

Dedham has the most affordable 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	Lexington	Dedham
People
Population	34,295Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA
Kids under 18	25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	84.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA	$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA	$2,042±$182Lowest 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	50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Lexington	Dedham
High school in town	Lexington High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	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.