What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k median).

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

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	Dresden	Deer Isle
People
Population	1,645Lowest	2,470Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME	52.6±5.6Lowest 17% 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	17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%	14.7%±3.3Lowest 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%±8 ME: 22.4%	24.8%±3.3 ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	35.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.4Lowest 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	$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average	$62,284±$15kLowest 17% below ME
	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	$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME	$308,300±$42kHighest 4% above 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	$1,194±$502Lowest 5% above ME	$1,909±$927Highest 68% 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	$2,500Highest 18% below ME	$1,890Lowest 38% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%	25.4%±17.9Highest 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	9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 35% above ME	20 minLowest 17% below ME
Work from home	6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	22%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	RSU 02	Deer Isle-Stonington CSD
High school in town	None in town	Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch
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.