What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).

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	3,675Highest	1,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.7±3.7Highest 9% above ME	46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME
	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%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.2%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	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%Highest ME: 36.2%	49.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Rockport and Dedham 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 16% above ME	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME
	Dedham and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$469,000±$50kHighest 58% above ME	$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$667Lowest 5% above ME	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME
	Dedham and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,764Highest 90% above ME	$3,942Lowest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±42.9Highest ME: 48.4%	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Rockport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	11 minLowest 54% below ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	17.1%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Rockport 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	#8 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28	Dedham Public Schools
High school in town	Camden Hills Regional H S	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.