Compare towns
Dresden vs Hampton Beach vs Otisfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Otisfield has the most homeowners (92.3%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Otisfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645Lowest |
2,605Highest |
1,951 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9Lowest 42% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
56.8±4.8 46% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dresden and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dresden and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,844±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$84,271±$15kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Otisfield and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,100±$29kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$317,200±$35k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,300±$872 8% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$2,652 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.3%±92.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otisfield and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Otisfield 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 |
U.S. 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.