Compare towns
Belgrade vs Dedham vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Belgrade | Dedham | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351 |
1,656Lowest |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Belgrade 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 18 | Dedham Public Schools | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.

