Compare towns
Dedham vs Hooksett vs Ellsworth vs Otis
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).
Hooksett has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% rent).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 54.7).
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 | Hooksett | Ellsworth | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
15,057Highest |
8,657 |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
54.7±3.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth and Otis 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$101,250±$27k 25% 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. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$282,500±$23k 15% below 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,563±$734 11% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Otis 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,262 5% above U.S. |
$2,263Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±100 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Hooksett School District | Ellsworth Public Schools | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.