Compare towns
Otis vs Troy vs Unity 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 oldest population (median age 54.7).
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Troy | Unity | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 705Lowest |
984 |
1,858Highest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
49.3±13.6 10% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
| Otis and Troy 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% |
20.7%±7 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Troy 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% |
27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Troy 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% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% 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 |
$213,000±$31k 28% below ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,255±$211 10% above ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% 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 |
$1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Troy and Unity 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% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 min 69% above ME |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Troy and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otis Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.