What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most people working from home (21.2%).

Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).

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	Madison	Dedham
People
Population	2,676Highest	1,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average	46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME
	Dedham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	22.9%±7.5Highest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Madison and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	49.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Madison and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,698±$20kLowest 17% below ME	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$163,900±$59kLowest 45% below ME	$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$218Lowest 25% below ME	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME
	Dedham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,740Lowest 43% below ME	$3,942Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.5%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4%	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Madison and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest ME: 10.7%	9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 25% above ME	30 minLowest 22% above ME
Work from home	21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9%	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Madison and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Dedham Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.