Compare towns
Dedham vs Otis vs Unity vs Ellsworth
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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Otis | Unity | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
705Lowest |
1,375 |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
54.7±3.1 41% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Unity and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±7.8 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth 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 38% above U.S. |
$101,250±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below 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. |
$282,500±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,563±$734 11% above U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$2,263Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,262 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Unity 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 | — | — | — | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Otis Public Schools | Unity School District | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | 5 photos → |
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.