What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).

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	Hanover	Dedham
People
Population	14,845Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Dedham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA	$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
	Dedham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Highest 56% above MA	$7,918Lowest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham and Hanover 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	#69 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Dedham
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	10.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.