What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the most affordable homes ($473k median).

Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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	Rockland	Dedham
People
Population	17,701Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Dedham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Rockland and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,405±$12kLowest 8% above MA	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
	Dedham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$472,900±$21kLowest 16% below MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
	Dedham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,487Lowest 8% above MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Rockland 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	#175 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Rockland	Dedham
High school in town	Rockland Senior High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.