Compare towns
Dedham vs Dedham vs Dover vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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.
| Measure | Dedham | Dedham | Dover | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
25,237 |
5,930Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,147±$25 22% above MA |
| Dover and Boston 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%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 |
1970Highest 6 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 |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
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.