Compare towns
Dedham vs Hooksett vs Readfield vs Mount Vernon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Readfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Mount Vernon has the most affordable homes ($264k 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 | Hooksett | Readfield | Mount Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
15,057Highest |
2,651 |
1,716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
47.1±6.2 21% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Mount Vernon 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Mount Vernon 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% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Vernon and Readfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% 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% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8k 7% above U.S. |
$74,395±$6kLowest 8% below 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. |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$264,200±$23kLowest 21% 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. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$893±$168Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Hooksett 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
$2,832Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±36.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Readfield 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mount Vernon and Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Hooksett School District | RSU 38 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.