What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).

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	Marlborough	Dedham
People
Population	41,647Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Marlborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,968±$9kLowest 12% below MA	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,871±$123Lowest 6% above MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
	Dedham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,747Lowest 4% below MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marlborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Marlborough 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	#215 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough	Dedham
High school in town	Assabet Valley Vocational High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	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.