Compare towns
Dover vs Dedham vs Lebanon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 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 | Dover | Dedham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
25,237 |
14,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Dedham | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Dedham High | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.