Compare towns
Dedham vs Surry vs Rye vs Readfield
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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Surry | Rye | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
1,836 |
5,611Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
52.4±5.6 35% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
| Rye and Surry 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% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 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% |
30.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Surry 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% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8k 7% 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. |
$296,300±$36kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below 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. |
$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Surry and Rye 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 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 | — | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Surry Public Schools | Rye School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.