What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).

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	Rockport	Dedham
People
Population	3,675Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.7±3.7Highest 25% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Rockport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rockport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rockport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$469,000±$50kLowest 41% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
	Dedham and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,764Lowest 85% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±42.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	11 minLowest 57% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Rockport 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	#8 of 133 in ME	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28	Dedham
High school in town	Camden Hills Regional H S	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	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.