Compare towns
Dedham vs Ellsworth vs Kittery vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Dedham | Ellsworth | Kittery | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
8,657 |
10,473 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
— |
| Dedham and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #63 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Dedham | Ellsworth Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Ellsworth High School | Robert W Traip Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
12.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.