Compare towns
Dedham vs Dover vs Epping
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
5,930Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Epping and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 60% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dedham | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Epping School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
9.8 |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.