Compare towns
Dedham vs Jackson vs Readfield vs Hope
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%).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
Hope has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Jackson | Readfield | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
897Lowest |
2,651Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hope and Readfield 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Jackson 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 | — | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Jackson School District | RSU 38 | Hope Public Schools |
| 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.