Compare towns
Dedham vs Hampstead vs Pownal
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 affordable homes ($356k median).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Pownal has the most people working from home (23.9%).
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 | Hampstead | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
9,102Highest |
1,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.2±8.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Pownal 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% |
21.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pownal and Dedham 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%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Hampstead 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% |
49% 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% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Pownal 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. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$104,333±$14kLowest 29% 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. |
$436,800±$32k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$981±$636Lowest 31% 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. |
$5,212 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.9%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Hampstead 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% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Hampstead 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Hampstead School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.