What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the most affordable homes ($407k 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	Randolph	Dedham
People
Population	420Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.5±10.9Highest 48% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.5%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,750±$16kLowest 26% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$57kLowest 22% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,667±$215Lowest 18% above U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
	Dedham and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,269Lowest 37% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±53.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	19.5%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Randolph 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
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.