What stands out worked out from the figures below

Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).

Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

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	Quinebaug	Dedham
People
Population	1,193Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Quinebaug and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,181±$36kLowest 30% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
	Dedham and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,042±$182 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Quinebaug are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Quinebaug 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	—	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Dedham
High school in town	—	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.4
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.