Compare towns

Dedham vs Dedham vs Exeter

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

MeasureDedhamDedhamExeter
People
Population
25,237Highest
25,237Highest
16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Lowest
15% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Lowest
15% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.9%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kLowest
37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,856±$223Lowest
31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918Lowest
154% above U.S.
$7,918Lowest
154% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #119 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #22 of 120 in NH
School district — Dedham Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town — Dedham High Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Lowest
12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 59 photos →

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.