What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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	Salem	Dedham
People
Population	44,795Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
	Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Lowest about the MA average	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Salem 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	#248 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Dedham
High school in town	Salem High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	10.4Highest
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.