What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

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 Eliot	Dedham
People
Population	4,203Highest	1,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.5±8Highest 24% above ME	46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME
	South Eliot and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	49.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dedham and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,299±$9kLowest 33% above ME	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME
	Dedham and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$475,600±$52kHighest 60% above ME	$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME	$1,422±$607Lowest 25% above ME
	South Eliot and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,442Highest 46% above ME	$3,942Lowest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4%	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	South Eliot and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 16% below ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	14.2%±4.5Highest ME: 15.9%	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	South Eliot and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Dedham Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.