Compare towns
Otis vs Newfields vs Dedham vs Ellsworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the oldest population (median age 54.7).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Newfields | Dedham | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 705Lowest |
2,023 |
1,656 |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Ellsworth 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 25% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,500±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734 11% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,263Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$3,262 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Otis Public Schools | Newfields School District | Dedham Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | None yet | 5 photos → |
U.S. 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.