Compare towns
Dedham vs Milton vs Otis
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 most kids (23.8% under 18).
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Milton | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656 |
4,538Highest |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
54.7±3.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis and Dedham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Milton 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 38% above U.S. |
$94,493±$27kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$101,250±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| 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 7% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$282,500±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,563±$734 11% above U.S. |
| Milton and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942 26% above U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
$2,263Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton 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 | — | #116 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Milton School District | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.