What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k 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	Lowell	Dedham
People
Population	1,070Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S.	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	55 minHighest 109% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Lowell School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.