Compare towns
Holden vs Sidney vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holden has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Holden | Sidney | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,352 |
4,790Highest |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.6 about the ME average |
43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
| Dedham and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Dedham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Holden and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,200±$35k 23% above ME |
$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Dedham and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,400±$70kLowest about the ME average |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
| Dedham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,340±$304Lowest 18% above ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,221 6% above ME |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.8%±30.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Holden and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
25 min about the ME average |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sidney and Holden 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 | #61 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 63/MSAD 63 | RSU 18 | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.