What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most affordable homes ($356k median).

Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dedham	Hampstead
People
Population	1,656Lowest	9,102Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.5±2.2Highest 20% above U.S.	45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Dedham and Hampstead 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%	21.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Hampstead 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%	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampstead 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%	44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampstead 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±$18kLowest 38% above U.S.	$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Hampstead 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±$33kLowest 7% above U.S.	$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average	$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Dedham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,942Lowest 26% above U.S.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampstead and Dedham 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%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Dedham Public Schools	Hampstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.