What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	11,685Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S.
	Hanover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.	$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S.
	Hanover and Dedham 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 221% above U.S.	$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6% U.S.: 12.5%	5.6% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest 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	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover 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	#1 of 120 in NH	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	Dedham
High school in town	Hanover High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	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.