What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the most homeowners (90.1%).

Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).

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	Pembroke	Dedham
People
Population	18,382Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA
	Pembroke and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Pembroke and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA	$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA
	Pembroke and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$586,500±$28kLowest 4% above MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA	$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA
	Pembroke and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,585Lowest 10% above MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest 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	35 minHighest 19% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Pembroke 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	#82 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Pembroke	Dedham
High school in town	Pembroke High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	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.