What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k 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	Spencer	Dedham
People
Population	12,008Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% MA: +7.4%	+2.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA
	Spencer and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Spencer and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Lowest 27% below MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Spencer 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	#261 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Dedham
High school in town	David Prouty High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	10.4Highest
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.