Compare towns

Dresden vs Harrison vs Millinocket

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%).
Harrison has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k 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.

MeasureDresdenHarrisonMillinocket
People
Population
1,645Lowest
2,513
4,115Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-10.4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-8.7%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
55.1±7.9
23% above ME
56±3.6Highest
25% above ME
54.2±6.2Lowest
21% 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%
9.1%±3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.1%±5.9
ME: 18.1%
Dresden and Millinocket 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%
29.8%±7.6
ME: 22.4%
36.2%±8.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
Millinocket 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%
ME: 36.2%
30.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
18.6%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.9
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Millinocket 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±$22kHighest
about the ME average
$56,938±$6k
24% below ME
$51,007±$9kLowest
32% below ME
Dresden and Harrison 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
$249,300±$70kHighest
16% below ME
$103,800±$26kLowest
65% 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
$885±$193
22% below ME
$451±$130Lowest
60% below ME
Dresden and Harrison 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
$2,731Highest
10% below ME
$1,580Lowest
48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±26Lowest
ME: 48.4%
27.5%±24.4Highest
ME: 48.4%
20.5%±11
ME: 48.4%
Harrison and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
19.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
17.1%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%
ME: 74.3%
90.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
84.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1956Lowest
21 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
35% above ME
31 min
24% above ME
24 minLowest
about the ME average
Work from home
6.7%±2.8
ME: 15.9%
22.3%±9.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.6%±4.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #98 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 02 RSU 17/MSAD 17 Millinocket Public Schools
High school in town None in town None in town Stearns Jr-Sr High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.6
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.