Compare towns
Dresden vs Jefferson vs Whitefield
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 the most kids (28% under 18).
Whitefield has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645Lowest |
2,647Highest |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
| Dresden and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Whitefield 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% ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,844±$22k about the ME average |
$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average |
| 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 |
$242,300±$24k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
| Dresden and Jefferson 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 |
$2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$2,366Lowest 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Whitefield 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% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Whitefield and Jefferson 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 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.