What stands out worked out from the figures below

Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k 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	Naples	Dedham
People
Population	3,985Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.8±6.8Highest 28% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Naples and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Naples and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,941±$625Lowest 37% above U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
	Dedham and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Naples and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 45% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	26.7%±11.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Naples 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	#118 of 133 in ME	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 61/MSAD 61	Dedham
High school in town	Lake Region High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	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.