What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

Dedham has the most people working from home (9.3%).

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.

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

Measure	Otis	Dedham
People
Population	705Lowest	1,656Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME	46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME
Kids under 18	16.6%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±8Highest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Otis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	49.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dedham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,250±$27kLowest 35% above ME	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% 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	$282,500±$23kLowest 5% below ME	$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME	$1,422±$607Lowest 25% 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	$2,263Lowest 25% below ME	$3,942Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Otis and Dedham 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%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 69% above ME	30 minLowest 22% above ME
Work from home	5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.3%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Dedham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Otis Public Schools	Dedham 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.