What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Dedham has the most affordable 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	Norwell	Dedham
People
Population	11,361Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
Kids under 18	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA	$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA	$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA
	Norwell and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,918Lowest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 21% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Norwell 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	#80 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Norwell	Dedham
High school in town	Norwell High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	10.4Lowest
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.