Compare towns
Dedham vs Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Dedham | Hampstead | Hooksett | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
9,102Lowest |
15,057 |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Hampstead 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.