Compare towns
Dedham vs Readfield vs Rye
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).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Readfield | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
2,651 |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Readfield 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% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 38 | Rye School District |
| High school 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 |
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.