What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).

Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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	Nahant	Dedham
People
Population	3,325Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA
Kids under 18	11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA
	Nahant and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,777±$334Lowest about the MA average	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
	Dedham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,615Lowest 10% above MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Nahant 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	#129 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Nahant	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.