What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deer Isle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Deer Isle	Dresden
People
Population	2,470Highest	1,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.6±5.6Lowest 17% above ME	55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME
	Dresden and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dresden and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±3.3 ME: 22.4%	24.8%±8 ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dresden and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,284±$15kLowest 17% below ME	$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average
	Dresden and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$308,300±$42kHighest 4% above ME	$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME
	Deer Isle and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME	$1,194±$502Lowest 5% above ME
	Deer Isle and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,890Lowest 38% below ME	$2,500Highest 18% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.4%±17.9Highest ME: 48.4%	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Deer Isle and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 17% below ME	33 minHighest 35% above ME
Work from home	22%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	Deer Isle-Stonington CSD	RSU 02
High school in town	Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.