Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Hooksett vs Dedham vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Hooksett has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Surry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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.
| Measure | Ellsworth | Hooksett | Dedham | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657 |
15,057Highest |
1,656Lowest |
1,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Surry and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Surry and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Surry 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Hooksett School District | Dedham Public Schools | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.