Compare towns

Dedham vs Ellsworth vs Hooksett

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).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Hooksett has the most people working from home (13.4%).

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.

MeasureDedhamEllsworthHooksett
People
Population
1,656Lowest
8,657
15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±2.2Highest
20% above U.S.
43±2.4
11% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
Dedham and Ellsworth 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%
18.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dedham and Ellsworth 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%
22.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ellsworth 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,442±$18k
38% above U.S.
$77,375±$18kLowest
4% below U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
Hooksett 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.
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
Hooksett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,422±$607
about the U.S. average
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
Hooksett 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.
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13%±85.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Hooksett 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%
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9.3%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hooksett 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 — #63 of 133 in ME #30 of 120 in NH
School district Dedham Public Schools Ellsworth Public Schools Hooksett School District
High school in town None in town Ellsworth High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 5 photos → 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.