Compare towns
Hope vs Old Town vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Old Town has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Hope | Old Town | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748 |
7,470Highest |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
37±1.5Lowest 17% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Hope and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% ME: 36.2% |
36.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$51,585±$10kLowest 31% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$208,100±$26kLowest 30% below ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
| Hope and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$989±$100Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 27% above ME |
$3,153Lowest 4% above ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±15Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Old Town and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
21.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% ME: 74.3% |
59.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1963Lowest 14 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
20 min 18% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.4%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Old Town and Hope 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 | — | #56 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 34 | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Old Town High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.