Compare towns
Dedham vs Ellsworth vs Wolfeboro
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Ellsworth | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
8,657Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth 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 38% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Wolfeboro 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Wolfeboro 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. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Dedham 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #63 of 133 in ME | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.