Compare towns
Dedham vs Unity vs Otis vs Belgrade
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).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 54.7).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Otis | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
1,858 |
705Lowest |
3,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
| Otis and Belgrade 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Belgrade 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Belgrade 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
49.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 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±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$282,500±$23k 5% below ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
| Dedham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Unity and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Unity 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 | — | — | — | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Otis Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.