Compare towns

Dresden vs Danforth vs Otisfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has the most kids (17% under 18).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Otisfield has the most people working from home (18.8%).

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.

MeasureDresdenDanforthOtisfield
People
Population
1,645
452Lowest
1,951Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
—
+4.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
55.1±7.9
23% above ME
51.9±5.3Lowest
16% above ME
56.8±4.8Highest
27% above ME
Otisfield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17%±3.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
14.8%±6.6Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.1%±3.5
ME: 18.1%
Dresden and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.8%±8Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.6%±5.8Lowest
ME: 22.4%
23.7%±1.5
ME: 22.4%
Dresden and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.5%
ME: 36.2%
4.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
31%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.4%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
1.9%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Dresden and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,844±$22k
about the ME average
$42,264±$11kLowest
43% below ME
$84,271±$15kHighest
13% above ME
Otisfield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,100±$29k
19% below ME
$85,200±$20kLowest
71% below ME
$317,200±$35kHighest
7% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,194±$502
5% above ME
$629±$22Lowest
45% below ME
$1,300±$872Highest
14% above ME
Otisfield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,500Lowest
18% below ME
—
$2,652Highest
13% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±26
ME: 48.4%
11.5%±71.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
77.3%±92.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
Otisfield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
12%Highest
ME: 10.7%
10.3%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%
ME: 74.3%
79.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
92.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
1981Lowest
4 yrs newer than ME
1990Highest
13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
35% above ME
27 minLowest
9% above ME
33 min
34% above ME
Work from home
6.7%±2.8
ME: 15.9%
3%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
18.8%±6.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district RSU 02 — RSU 17/MSAD 17
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.