Compare towns
Denmark vs Dresden vs Jay vs Sebago
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Denmark has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sebago has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Denmark | Dresden | Jay | Sebago |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,054Lowest |
1,645 |
4,657Highest |
2,073 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.4±5 21% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
40.7±3.9 9% below ME |
| Dresden and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sebago and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.8% ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,167±$10kLowest 14% below ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$78,438±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
| Sebago and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$298,000±$46kHighest about the ME average |
| Sebago and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,409±$207 24% above ME |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,533±$292Highest 35% above ME |
| Sebago and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,259 26% below ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,543Highest 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
53.3%±30.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
13.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 39% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
37 minHighest 52% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sebago and Denmark 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 | — | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 02 | RSU 73 | Sebago Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.