What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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	Shrewsbury	Dedham
People
Population	38,876Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
Kids under 18	23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$139,302±$11kHighest 34% above MA	$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA
	Shrewsbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$592,300±$20kLowest 5% above MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,116±$98Highest 20% above MA	$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA
	Shrewsbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,923Lowest 16% above MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.2%±6.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	26.3%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Shrewsbury	Dedham
High school in town	Shrewsbury High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.4Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.