Compare towns
Dedham vs Bow vs Readfield
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 most homeowners (95.5%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Bow | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
8,335Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Readfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Bow and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942 26% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Bow School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.