Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Dedham vs Otis vs Hermon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 54.7).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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 | Ellsworth | Dedham | Otis | Hermon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,656 |
705Lowest |
6,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 4% below ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
41.1±4.7Lowest 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.6%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Ellsworth and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
$96,629±$22k 29% 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 | $242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$282,500±$23k 5% below ME |
$333,600±$32k 12% above ME |
| Dedham and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,406±$202 23% 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 | $3,262 7% above ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
$2,761 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
28.2%±19.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Otis 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
75.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
30 min 22% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Dedham and Hermon 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | — | — | #54 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools | Otis Public Schools | Hermon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | None in town | Hermon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | — | 14.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.