Compare towns
Dedham vs Dover vs Hooksett vs Needham
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 homeowners (97.9%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
5,930Lowest |
15,057 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Dover 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. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Dover and Needham 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. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Needham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.