Compare towns
Dedham vs Hampton vs Bucksport
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).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Bucksport has the most affordable homes ($252k 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 | Hampton | Bucksport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
16,426Highest |
5,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.7±12.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Bucksport 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.6%±7.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Bucksport 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% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Hampton 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$64,720±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Hampton 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$252,300±$32kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$882±$92Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$2,021Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Bucksport 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #68 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 25 |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Bucksport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.