Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Exeter vs Dedham vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 54.7).
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 | Exeter | Dedham | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,093 |
1,656 |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
| Otis and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Ellsworth 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$101,250±$27k 35% 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±$22k 18% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$282,500±$23k 5% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,263 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 min 43% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Dedham 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | — | Dedham Public Schools | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.