What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Dedham
People
Population	33,364Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Lowest 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	$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.	$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Dover 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	#64 of 120 in NH	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Dover School District	Dedham
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.