What stands out worked out from the figures below

Templeton has the most affordable homes ($359k 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	Templeton	Dedham
People
Population	8,252Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Dedham and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Templeton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,154±$15kLowest about the MA average	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$353Lowest 31% below MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,554Lowest 24% below MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±26.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	16.9%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Templeton 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	#244 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Narragansett	Dedham
High school in town	Narragansett Regional High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.4Lowest
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.