Compare towns

Dedham vs South Hooksett vs Belgrade

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).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).

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.

MeasureDedhamSouth HooksettBelgrade
People
Population
1,656Lowest
5,902Highest
3,351
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±2.2
20% above U.S.
35.2±3.6Lowest
10% below U.S.
47.3±14.6Highest
22% above U.S.
Belgrade and Dedham 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%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
Dedham and Belgrade 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%
13.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.9%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Belgrade 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
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.3%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,442±$18k
38% above U.S.
$130,000±$15kHighest
61% above U.S.
$88,338±$13kLowest
9% above U.S.
South 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.
$433,200±$40kHighest
30% above U.S.
$312,200±$44kLowest
6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,422±$607
about the U.S. average
$1,471±$217Highest
4% above U.S.
$857±$108Lowest
39% below U.S.
South 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.
$6,801Highest
118% above U.S.
$2,859Lowest
8% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13%±85.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±25Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
17.2%±35.9
U.S.: 51.1%
South Hooksett and Belgrade 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%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
9.3%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Belgrade and Dedham 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 — — #71 of 133 in ME
School district Dedham Public Schools — RSU 18
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.