Compare towns
Bradley vs Dresden vs Stetson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bradley has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Bradley | Dresden | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645Highest |
1,645Highest |
1,151Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±9.7 5% below ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
| Dresden and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Dresden and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7% ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Stetson and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,667±$28kHighest about the ME average |
$74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| Bradley and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,800±$37kLowest 32% below ME |
$240,100±$29kHighest 19% below ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
| Dresden and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$325 4% below ME |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
| Dresden and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,946Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,500Highest 18% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±22.5 ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Bradley and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 34 | RSU 02 | — |
| 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.