Compare towns
Dedham vs Dover vs Eliot vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Eliot | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
33,364Highest |
7,146Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 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±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #64 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.