Compare towns

Dedham vs Augusta vs Hope

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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.

MeasureDedhamAugustaHope
People
Population
1,656Lowest
19,077Highest
1,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-1.2%
ME: +2.6%
+10.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
46.5±2.2Highest
4% above ME
42.5±2.4Lowest
5% below ME
44.6±3.1
about the ME average
Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.8%±3.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
18.9%±2.6Lowest
ME: 18.1%
23.3%±5.4
ME: 18.1%
Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.7%±2.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
21.5%±2.6Highest
ME: 22.4%
21.1%±1.3
ME: 22.4%
Augusta and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
28.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
47.4%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.7
ME: 5.8%
3.6%±1.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Augusta and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,442±$18kHighest
49% above ME
$47,979±$3kLowest
36% below ME
$86,766±$6k
16% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,400±$33k
20% above ME
$201,000±$18kLowest
32% below ME
$373,400±$33kHighest
26% above ME
Hope and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,422±$607Highest
25% above ME
$919±$79Lowest
19% below ME
$1,219±$182
7% above ME
Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,942Highest
30% above ME
$2,465Lowest
19% below ME
$3,842
27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13%±85.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
49.2%±8.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
37.8%±38.7
ME: 48.4%
Augusta and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
ME: 10.7%
18.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
53.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
92.9%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1965Lowest
12 yrs older than ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
22% above ME
19 minLowest
24% below ME
20 min
19% below ME
Work from home
9.3%±4.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
15.1%±3.7
ME: 15.9%
18.3%±10.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
Hope and Augusta 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 133 in ME —
School district Dedham Public Schools Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy Hope Public Schools
High school in town None in town Cony None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
17.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.