Compare towns
Dedham vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Otis has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Williston | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656 |
10,144Highest |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
54.7±3.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$101,250±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$282,500±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,563±$734 11% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,263Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.