Compare towns
Otis vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 705Lowest |
11,713Highest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
| Otis and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wells 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 ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells 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 |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% 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 |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 69% above ME |
28 minLowest 12% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Wells and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Otis Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.