What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k 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	Wilbraham	Dedham
People
Population	14,572Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.7Lowest 11% above MA	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Dedham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wilbraham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Wilbraham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
	Dedham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,658Lowest 11% above MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#88 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Dedham
High school in town	Minnechaug Regional High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	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.