Compare towns
Otis vs Wayne vs Dedham vs Smithfield
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%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Wayne | Dedham | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 705Lowest |
1,101 |
1,656Highest |
856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1 22% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Smithfield and Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest 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% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Wayne 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% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$93,194±$26kLowest 25% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$107,917±$27k 44% above ME |
| Dedham and Smithfield 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
| Wayne and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
| 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 |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
30 minLowest 22% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otis Public Schools | RSU 38 | 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 | 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.