Compare towns
Dedham vs Stoddard vs Bucksport
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).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Bucksport has the most affordable homes ($252k 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 | Stoddard | Bucksport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656 |
1,072Lowest |
5,016Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
42.7±12.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Bucksport 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% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.6%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bucksport and Stoddard 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% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoddard 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 38% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
$64,720±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
$252,300±$32kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$895±$751 37% below U.S. |
$882±$92Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoddard 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. |
$4,316Highest 38% above U.S. |
$2,021Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Bucksport 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bucksport and Stoddard 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 | — | — | #68 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Stoddard School District | RSU 25 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bucksport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.