What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k 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	South Hadley	Dedham
People
Population	17,754Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Dedham and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	South Hadley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,500Lowest 8% below MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 19% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and South Hadley 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	#216 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	South Hadley	Dedham
High school in town	South Hadley High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	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.