What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k 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	Smithfield	Dedham
People
Population	22,233Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
	Dedham and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#8 of 38 in RI	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Smithfield	Dedham
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	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.