Compare towns
Dresden vs Exeter vs Sumner vs Alna
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 shortest commute (33 min average).
Exeter has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
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 | Sumner | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,645Highest |
1,093 |
845 |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
| Sumner and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4 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±$12k 13% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
| Alna and Exeter 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±$39k 44% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
— | $1,088±$176 4% below ME |
| Dresden and Alna 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 35% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 02 | — | RSU 10 | — |
| High school 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.