Compare towns
Hope vs Middlesex vs Dedham vs Camden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Camden has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Hope | Middlesex | Dedham | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,943 |
1,656Lowest |
5,242Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
52.2±6.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Camden and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$82,344±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$520,600±$70kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,269±$354 10% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$5,832 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Camden and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Camden 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 | — | — | — | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.