Compare towns
Dedham vs Dublin vs Peterborough
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 expensive homes ($662k median).
Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Dublin | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
1,688Lowest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Dublin 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% |
21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough and Dublin 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% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Dublin 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. |
$104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,325±$165Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$8,165 162% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dublin and Dedham 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 | — | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dedham | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.