Compare towns
Dover vs Kittery vs Dedham
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%).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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.
| Measure | Dover | Kittery | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,473Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 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±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Kittery 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover School District | Kittery Public Schools | Dedham |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Robert W Traip Academy | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.