Compare towns

Dresden vs Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Harrison

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).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureDresdenEliotOgunquitHarrison
People
Population
1,645
7,146Highest
1,379Lowest
2,513
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
ME: +2.6%
+8.3%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-10.4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
55.1±7.9
23% above ME
50.8±5.9Lowest
13% above ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
56±3.6
25% above ME
Ogunquit and Harrison 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%
16.3%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
9.1%±3
ME: 18.1%
Dresden and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.8%±8Lowest
ME: 22.4%
27.8%±6.2
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
29.8%±7.6
ME: 22.4%
Ogunquit and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
43.6%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
30.9%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.9
ME: 5.8%
2%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
Ogunquit and Dresden 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
$101,522±$10k
36% above ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$56,938±$6kLowest
24% below ME
Ogunquit and Eliot 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
$498,900±$62k
68% above ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$249,300±$70k
16% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,194±$502
5% above ME
$1,948±$471Highest
71% above ME
—
$885±$193Lowest
22% below ME
Eliot 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
$4,549Highest
50% above ME
$4,473
47% above ME
$2,731
10% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±26
ME: 48.4%
55.1%±20.1Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
27.5%±24.4
ME: 48.4%
Eliot and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%
ME: 10.7%
4.8%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
19.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%
ME: 74.3%
79.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
90.1%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
35% above ME
23 minLowest
9% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
31 min
24% above ME
Work from home
6.7%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
17.4%±4.7
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
22.3%±9.4
ME: 15.9%
Ogunquit and Harrison 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 — #19 of 133 in ME — —
School district RSU 02 RSU 35/MSAD 35 — RSU 17/MSAD 17
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.