What stands out worked out from the figures below

Litchfield has the most affordable homes ($485k median).

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	Litchfield	Dedham
People
Population	8,499Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
	Dedham and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Litchfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,000±$18kLowest 46% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S.	$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S.
	Litchfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,273Highest 165% above U.S.	$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Litchfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Litchfield 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	#53 of 120 in NH	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Litchfield School District	Dedham
High school in town	Campbell High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.