Compare towns
Hope vs Smithfield 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%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Smithfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748Highest |
856Lowest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest 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%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dedham and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6kLowest 16% above ME |
$107,917±$27k 44% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Dedham and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% 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 |
$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
$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 |
$2,866Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Hope Public Schools | — | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.