Compare towns
Dedham vs Danforth vs Otis vs Holden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 54.7).
Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Danforth | Otis | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
666Lowest |
705 |
3,352Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+6.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
45±4.6Lowest about the ME average |
| Otis and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8 ME: 18.1% |
21.5%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
15.1%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
44.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Holden and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
$92,200±$35k 23% 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 | $356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$282,500±$23k 5% below ME |
$289,400±$70k about the ME average |
| Dedham and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below 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 | $3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,263 25% below ME |
$3,221 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
22.8%±30.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Danforth and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Holden and Dedham 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 | — | — | — | #61 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | — | Otis Public Schools | RSU 63/MSAD 63 |
| 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.