Compare towns
Dedham vs Dover vs Milton
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 most affordable homes ($662k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
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 | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
5,930Lowest |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Milton 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±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Milton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.