Compare towns
Otis vs Gorham vs Smithfield vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Gorham | Smithfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 705Lowest |
18,300Highest |
856 |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1 22% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
| Smithfield and Otis 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% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield 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% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,250±$27kLowest 35% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$107,917±$27k 44% above ME |
$111,442±$18k 49% above ME |
| Gorham and Dedham 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 |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734 37% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
| Gorham 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$3,942 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Otis Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | — | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.