Compare towns
Hampstead vs Dedham vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Hampstead | Dedham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
25,237Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.