Compare towns
Dresden vs Jefferson vs Levant
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 oldest population (median age 55.1).
Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Levant has the most renters (18.6% rent).
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 | Jefferson | Levant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645Lowest |
2,647 |
3,069Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
39.7±2.2 11% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±4.9Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
21.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.8Lowest 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±$17k 14% above ME |
$86,071±$22kHighest 15% above ME |
| Levant and Jefferson 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 |
$268,500±$27k 9% below ME |
| Jefferson and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502 5% above ME |
$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average |
$1,370±$120Highest 20% above ME |
| Levant and Dresden 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 |
$2,580 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
45.7%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Levant and Jefferson 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Jefferson and Levant 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 | #124 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 02 | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 87/MSAD 23 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.