Compare towns
Dresden vs Jefferson vs Windsor
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%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($229k 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.
| Measure | Dresden | Jefferson | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645Lowest |
2,647 |
2,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
43.5±8 about the ME average |
| Dresden and Windsor 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% |
23.2%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Windsor 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% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6Lowest 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±$22k about the ME average |
$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$63,178±$5kLowest 15% below 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±$29k 19% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$228,800±$22kLowest 23% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502 5% above ME |
$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average |
$1,265±$400Highest 11% above ME |
| Windsor and Dresden 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 |
$2,160Lowest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3Lowest 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 | #44 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.