Compare towns
Dedham vs Jackson vs Union 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 expensive homes ($356k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Dedham | Jackson | Union | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
567Lowest |
2,663Highest |
705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Dedham 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%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Union 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% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Union 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 |
$75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average |
$80,724±$9k 8% 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±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$282,500±$23k 5% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% 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 |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Otis and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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.