What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).

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 Warwick	Dedham
People
Population	31,173Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±1.5Lowest 10% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
	Dedham and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	West Warwick and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,608±$7kLowest 4% below U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,800±$12kLowest about the U.S. average	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,303±$74Lowest 8% below U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,962Lowest 59% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#33 of 38 in RI	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	West Warwick	Dedham
High school in town	West Warwick High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	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.