Compare towns
Dedham vs Dover vs Chilmark vs Foxborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Foxborough has the most affordable homes ($606k median).
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 | Dover | Chilmark | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
5,930 |
1,578Lowest |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
42.4±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Chilmark and Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark 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 MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
58.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$10k 24% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,750±$2k 56% above MA |
$1,843±$70Lowest 5% above MA |
| Dover and Chilmark 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,275 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Chilmark 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | — | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Up-Island Regional | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.