Compare towns
Dedham vs Dover vs Exeter
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
5,930Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% 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 | $7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dedham | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.