Compare towns
Dedham vs Peterborough 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).
Peterborough has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Peterborough has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Peterborough | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
2,539Lowest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.5±9.2Highest 43% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Peterborough 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% |
10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Peterborough 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% |
35.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough and Peterborough 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% |
57.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$85,833±$15kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$379,300±$57kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,515±$290 7% above U.S. |
$1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$7,422Lowest 138% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Peterborough 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 | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dedham | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | 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.