Compare towns
Hope vs Middlesex vs Dedham 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
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,943 |
1,656Lowest |
2,651Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% 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. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Readfield 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% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest 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% |
22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Readfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% 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% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Dedham 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. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| 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±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% 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 | $3,842 23% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hope and Readfield 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% |
5% 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% |
89.9%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. |
1979Lowest 1 yr 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. |
30 min 12% above 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% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dedham Public Schools | 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 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.