What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).

Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).

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	Rochester	Dedham
People
Population	5,837Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.5±6Highest 16% above MA	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA
	Rochester and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Rochester and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,273±$12kLowest 16% above MA	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
	Dedham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$599,100±$31kLowest 7% above MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,432±$743Lowest 19% below MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
	Dedham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,530Lowest 9% above MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 25% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#104 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester	Dedham
High school in town	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1Lowest	10.4Highest
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.