Compare towns
Dresden vs Kennebunk vs Alna
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 most affordable homes ($240k median).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% 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.
| Measure | Dresden | Kennebunk | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645 |
11,820Highest |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
| Dresden and Kennebunk 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% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunk 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Dresden and Kennebunk 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 |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Alna 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 |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$367,400±$55k 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502 5% above ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
$1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
| Kennebunk 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 |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$3,667 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Kennebunk 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% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 02 | RSU 21 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.