Compare towns
Dedham vs Unity vs Otis vs Hope
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 highest household income ($111k).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Otis has the most renters (10.5% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Unity | Otis | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
1,375 |
705Lowest |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
54.7±3.1 41% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±7.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hope 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Hope 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$101,250±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6kLowest 7% 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±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$282,500±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Hope and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,563±$734 11% above U.S. |
$1,219±$182Lowest 14% 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,263Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Hope 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Unity School District | Otis Public Schools | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.