Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Dedham vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 54.7).
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 | Appleton | Danforth | Dedham | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
666Lowest |
1,656Highest |
705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
| Otis and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
| Dedham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$282,500±$23k 5% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
| Otis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,263 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Dedham Public Schools | Otis Public Schools |
| High school 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 |
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.