Compare towns
Dedham vs Harpswell 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 kids (23.8% under 18).
Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Harpswell | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656 |
5,046Highest |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
54.7±3.1 22% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Dedham and Harpswell 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 |
$96,250±$15kLowest 29% 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 | $356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$282,500±$23kLowest 5% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,348±$53Lowest 18% 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 | $3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
$2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Otis and Harpswell 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% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
30 minLowest 20% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.