Compare towns

Chapman vs Dedham vs Starks

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chapman has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Dedham has the most people working from home (9.3%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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.

MeasureChapmanDedhamStarks
People
Population
388Lowest
1,656Highest
556
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-7.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
45.7±11.4Lowest
about the ME average
46.5±2.2
4% above ME
46.7±9.4Highest
4% above ME
Starks and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.6%±5.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
23.8%±3.6
ME: 18.1%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Chapman and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.6%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.7%±2.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
20.3%±2.2
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.8%
ME: 36.2%
49.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
21%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±1.7
ME: 5.8%
0.9%±2.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Chapman and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,125±$17k
25% above ME
$111,442±$18kHighest
49% above ME
$63,500±$8kLowest
15% below ME
Dedham and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$185,700±$22k
37% below ME
$356,400±$33kHighest
20% above ME
$148,500±$27kLowest
50% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,422±$607Highest
25% above ME
$1,063±$301Lowest
7% below ME
Dedham and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,850
39% below ME
$3,942Highest
30% above ME
$1,348Lowest
56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
13%±85.3
ME: 48.4%
45.5%±90.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
Starks and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9%
ME: 10.7%
19.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.5%
ME: 74.3%
95.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
90%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
6% below ME
30 min
22% above ME
33 minHighest
33% above ME
Work from home
4.8%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
9.3%±4.3Highest
ME: 15.9%
3.3%±2.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Dedham and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Dedham Public Schools —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

ME 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.