What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).

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	Woburn	Dedham
People
Population	41,939Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
Kids under 18	17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
	Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA
	Woburn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA	$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA
	Woburn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,354Lowest 11% below MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 13% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Woburn 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	#169 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Woburn	Dedham
High school in town	Woburn High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	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.