Compare towns
Dedham vs Hooksett vs Newton
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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 | Dedham | Hooksett | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
15,057Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Newton 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Newton and Dedham 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Newton 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9kHighest 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,370±$81Highest 68% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Newton 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hooksett School District | Newton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.8Highest |
| 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.