Compare towns
Dover vs Dedham vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Dover | Dedham | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
25,237Highest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Acton 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.