Compare towns
Dedham vs Dunbarton vs Ellsworth
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 kids (23.8% under 18).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Dunbarton | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
3,097 |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth and Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Dunbarton 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. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Dunbarton 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. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunbarton and Dedham 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 | — | #33 of 120 in NH | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Dunbarton School District | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.