What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k 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	Rollinsford	Dedham
People
Population	2,626Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.8±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
	Dedham and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,500±$26kLowest 11% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,100±$33kLowest 20% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,809±$394Lowest 28% above U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
	Dedham and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,851Lowest 120% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rollinsford 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	#94 of 120 in NH	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Rollinsford School District	Dedham
High school in town	None in town	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.