Compare towns
Dresden vs Exeter 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Harrison has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Dresden | Exeter | Harrison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645 |
1,093Lowest |
2,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-10.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
52.6±7.7Lowest 17% above ME |
56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
| Harrison 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
9.1%±3 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.8%±7.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Harrison and Dresden 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
| Exeter 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$249,300±$70kHighest 16% below ME |
| Harrison and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
| Dresden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500 18% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,731Highest 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
31 minLowest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harrison and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.