Compare towns
Dresden vs Mapleton vs Alna vs Otisfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
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 | Mapleton | Alna | Otisfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,645 |
1,884 |
818Lowest |
1,951Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+4.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below 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%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.7%±1.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Dresden and Otisfield 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
$84,271±$15k 13% above ME |
| Alna and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
$317,200±$35k 7% above ME |
| Alna 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,088±$176 4% 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 | $2,500 18% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
$2,652 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
77.3%±92.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Otisfield and Alna 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
92.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Otisfield and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 02 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | 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 | 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.