What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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	South Berwick	Dedham
People
Population	7,670Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and South Berwick 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	#58 of 133 in ME	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Dedham
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	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.