What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has the oldest population (median age 55.1).

Jefferson has the most kids (28% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dresden	Jefferson
People
Population	1,645Lowest	2,647Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME	38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME
Kids under 18	17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Dresden and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Jefferson 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±$22kLowest about the ME average	$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME
	Jefferson 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±$29kLowest 19% below ME	$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME	$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average
	Dresden and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,500Lowest 18% below ME	$2,587Highest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%	29.8%±25.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Jefferson 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%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.8%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	30 minLowest 23% above ME
Work from home	6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Jefferson and Dresden 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	—	#45 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 02	Jefferson Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.