What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has the most people working from home (6.7%).

Hancock has the most expensive homes ($277k median).

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	Hancock
People
Population	1,645Lowest	2,518Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.1±7.9Lowest 23% above ME	56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME
	Hancock 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%	13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dresden and Hancock 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%	30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Hancock 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 ME: 36.2%	34.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dresden and Hancock 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	$72,285±$5kLowest 3% below ME
	Dresden and Hancock 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	$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME
	Hancock 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	$1,171±$65Lowest about the ME average
	Dresden and Hancock 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	$1,869Lowest 38% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%	42%±15.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Hancock and Dresden 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%	8.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 35% above ME	29 minLowest 18% above ME
Work from home	6.7%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9%	5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Dresden and Hancock 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	—	#117 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 02	Hancock Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.