Compare towns
Dedham vs Otis vs Wells
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).
Otis has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656 |
705Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
| Otis and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Wells 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% |
20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wells 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% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells 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 |
$101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% 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 |
$282,500±$23kLowest 5% below ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% 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 |
$2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Otis 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% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
28 minLowest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wells 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 | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Otis Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.