Compare towns
Dedham vs Dedham vs Hanover vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% 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.
| Measure | Dedham | Dedham | Hanover | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
25,237 |
14,845Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
| Hanover and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boston 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.