Compare towns
Alna vs Jefferson vs Ogunquit vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
Jefferson has the youngest population (median age 38.1).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Alna | Jefferson | Ogunquit | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 818Lowest |
2,647Highest |
1,379 |
1,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5 9% below ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3% ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,400±$55k 24% above ME |
$311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
— | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
| Dresden and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,667 21% above ME |
$2,587 15% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26 ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Jefferson Public Schools | — | RSU 02 |
| High school 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.