Compare towns
Dresden vs Lyman vs Otisfield
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).
Lyman has the most expensive homes ($360k median).
Otisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Lyman | Otisfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645Lowest |
4,612Highest |
1,951 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
53.8±2Lowest 20% above ME |
56.8±4.8Highest 27% above ME |
| Otisfield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Dresden and Otisfield 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% |
26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.7%±1.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman 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% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lyman 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 |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
$84,271±$15k 13% above ME |
| Lyman and Otisfield 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 |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
$317,200±$35k 7% above ME |
| Lyman and Otisfield 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 |
$1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,300±$872Highest 14% above ME |
| Otisfield 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 |
$2,717Highest 11% below ME |
$2,652 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
77.3%±92.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Otisfield and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
33 minLowest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman and Otisfield 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 | — | #40 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 02 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| 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.