Compare towns

Dedham vs Hope vs Steuben

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k 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.

MeasureDedhamHopeSteuben
People
Population
1,656
1,748Highest
1,388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-0.2%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
46.5±2.2Highest
4% above ME
44.6±3.1
about the ME average
40.1±8.5Lowest
10% below ME
Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.8%±3.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
23.3%±5.4
ME: 18.1%
20.4%±5.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.7%±2.9
ME: 22.4%
21.1%±1.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
15.9%±1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Hope and Dedham 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
ME: 36.2%
47.4%
ME: 36.2%
18.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.7
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±1.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
Steuben and Dedham 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
49% above ME
$86,766±$6k
16% above ME
$76,466±$4kLowest
about the ME average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,400±$33k
20% above ME
$373,400±$33kHighest
26% above ME
$173,900±$32kLowest
41% below ME
Hope and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,422±$607Highest
25% above ME
$1,219±$182
7% above ME
$678±$319Lowest
40% below ME
Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,942Highest
30% above ME
$3,842
27% above ME
$2,029Lowest
33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13%±85.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
37.8%±38.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
26.3%±87.8
ME: 48.4%
Hope and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
5.4%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
92.9%
ME: 74.3%
89.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1979Lowest
2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
22% above ME
20 minLowest
19% below ME
28 min
14% above ME
Work from home
9.3%±4.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
18.3%±10.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.8%±6.5
ME: 15.9%
Hope and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Dedham Public Schools Hope Public Schools RSU 24
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

ME 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.