Compare towns
Dedham vs Hooksett vs Readfield 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 homeowners (95.5%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Pownal has the most expensive homes ($437k 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 | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
15,057Highest |
2,651 |
1,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% 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. |
47.2±8.4 21% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Pownal 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 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%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal 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% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 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±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$104,333±$14k 29% 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±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,800±$32kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Pownal and Hooksett 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. |
$981±$636Lowest 31% 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. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,212 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.9%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Hooksett 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% |
5.5% 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% |
89.4% 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. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.9%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Pownal 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 05 |
| 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.