What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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	Plainville	Dedham
People
Population	17,551Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
	Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 149 in CT	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Dedham
High school in town	Plainville High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	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.