Compare towns
Denmark vs Mapleton vs Dresden vs Fryeburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Denmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Fryeburg has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Dresden | Fryeburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,054Lowest |
1,884 |
1,645 |
3,489Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.4±5 21% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
53.3±3.4 19% above 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%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
12.9%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Dresden 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
25.5%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Fryeburg 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
24.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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±$10k 14% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
$56,076±$15kLowest 25% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
$268,600±$30kHighest 9% below ME |
| Fryeburg and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
$893±$85 22% below ME |
| Denmark and Dresden 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
$2,928Highest 4% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
52.8%±14.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Fryeburg 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Denmark and Mapleton 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 | — | — | — | #103 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 02 | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.