Compare towns
Dedham vs Dedham vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
25,237Highest |
11,685Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dedham | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.