Compare towns

Otis vs Ellsworth vs Dedham

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).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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.

MeasureOtisEllsworthDedham
People
Population
705Lowest
8,657Highest
1,656
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
ME: +2.6%
+8.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
54.7±3.1Highest
22% above ME
43±2.4Lowest
4% below ME
46.5±2.2
4% above ME
Kids under 18
16.6%±7.8Lowest
ME: 18.1%
18.4%±3.5
ME: 18.1%
23.8%±3.6Highest
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+
20.9%±8
ME: 22.4%
22.1%±3.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.7%±2.9Lowest
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+
34.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
39.3%
ME: 36.2%
49.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±2Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±1.7
ME: 5.8%
Ellsworth 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
$77,375±$18kLowest
4% 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±$23k
5% below ME
$242,300±$22kLowest
18% below ME
$356,400±$33kHighest
20% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,563±$734Highest
37% above ME
$1,017±$195Lowest
11% below ME
$1,422±$607
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
$3,262
7% above ME
$3,942Highest
30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.7%±100
ME: 48.4%
62.1%±15.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
13%±85.3Lowest
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
7.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.5%
ME: 74.3%
66.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
95.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
13 yrs newer than ME
1980Lowest
3 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
42 minHighest
69% above ME
25 minLowest
about the ME average
30 min
22% above ME
Work from home
5.1%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
7.1%±2.8
ME: 15.9%
9.3%±4.3Highest
ME: 15.9%
Dedham and Ellsworth 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 Otis Public Schools Ellsworth Public Schools Dedham Public Schools
High school in town None in town Ellsworth High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.