Compare towns
Otis vs Saco 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).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Saco | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 705Lowest |
20,819Highest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 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% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco 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 |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% 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 |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,249±$385Lowest 10% above 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 |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,942 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco 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% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Otis Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.