Compare towns
Otis vs Appleton vs Dedham vs Sweden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the oldest population (median age 54.7).
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Sweden has the oldest housing (typical home built 1982).
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 | Otis | Appleton | Dedham | Sweden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 705 |
1,360 |
1,656Highest |
537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
51.1±19.2 14% above ME |
| Otis and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±7.8 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$73,750±$25k about the ME average |
| Dedham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,500±$23k 5% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$311,300±$61k 5% above ME |
| Dedham and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734 37% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,667±$815Highest 46% above ME |
| Sweden and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,598 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
8.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
30 minLowest 22% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otis Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Dedham 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 | 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.