Compare towns
Otis vs Kittery 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 most affordable homes ($283k median).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Kittery | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 705Lowest |
10,473Highest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
46.8±2.3 4% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±7.8 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest 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%±8 ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Kittery 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% |
46% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Kittery 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 |
$93,728±$14kLowest 25% 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 |
$468,500±$31kHighest 58% above ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734 37% above ME |
$1,716±$224Highest 51% above ME |
$1,422±$607Lowest 25% above ME |
| Kittery 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 |
$4,518Highest 49% above ME |
$3,942 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Kittery and Otis 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #17 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Otis Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.