Compare towns
Otis vs Starks 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
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.
| Measure | Otis | Starks | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 705 |
556Lowest |
1,656Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
| Otis and Starks 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% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest 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%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Otis and Starks 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% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dedham and Starks 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 |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below 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 |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,063±$301Lowest 7% 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 | $2,263 25% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
30 minLowest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dedham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Otis Public Schools | — | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school 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.