What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Newbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).

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	West Newbury	Dedham
People
Population	4,591Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±3Highest 24% above MA	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	West Newbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$179,500±$27kHighest 73% above MA	$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$808,200±$47kHighest 44% above MA	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,675±$674Lowest 5% below MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
	Dedham and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,240Highest 54% above MA	$7,918Lowest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	80.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%
	West Newbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.6%Lowest MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	24.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	West Newbury and Dedham 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	#86 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Pentucket	Dedham
High school in town	Pentucket Regional Sr High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.4Lowest
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.