Compare towns
Dedham vs Gorham vs Hope vs Otis
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 homeowners (95.5%).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Otis has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Gorham | Hope | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
18,300Highest |
1,748 |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5% ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest 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+ | 18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Hope 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% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18k 49% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$86,766±$6kLowest 16% above ME |
$101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
| Gorham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
$282,500±$23kLowest 5% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,219±$182Lowest 7% above ME |
$1,563±$734 37% above ME |
| Gorham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942 30% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,842 27% above ME |
$2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.