Compare towns
Dresden vs Kennebunk vs Ogunquit 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 most affordable homes ($240k median).
Kennebunk has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Whitefield has the youngest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Ogunquit | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,645 |
11,820Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
51.9±5.2Lowest 16% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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±$21k 64% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$242,300±$24k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502 5% above ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
— | $895±$126Lowest 21% 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 | $2,500 18% below ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$2,366Lowest 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Kennebunk and Whitefield 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.5% 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 |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 02 | RSU 21 | — | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.