What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Topsham	Dedham
People
Population	9,706Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Topsham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Topsham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Topsham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
	Dedham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Topsham 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	#66 of 133 in ME	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Dedham
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	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.