What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Otis has the highest household income ($101k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dresden	Otis
People
Population	1,645Highest	705Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME	54.7±3.1Lowest 22% above ME
	Dresden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dresden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4%	20.9%±8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Dresden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dresden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average	$101,250±$27kHighest 35% above ME
	Otis and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME	$282,500±$23kHighest 5% below ME
	Otis and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$502Lowest 5% above ME	$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME
	Otis and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,500Highest 18% below ME	$2,263Lowest 25% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%	35.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Otis and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 35% above ME	42 minHighest 69% above ME
Work from home	6.7%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9%	5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Dresden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 02	Otis Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.