Compare towns
Dresden vs Mapleton vs Strong 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Mapleton has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Alna has the most expensive homes ($367k 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 | Mapleton | Strong | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,645 |
1,884Highest |
1,249 |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
| Dresden and Strong 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest 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% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Dresden and Strong 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest 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±$22k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$93,125±$16kHighest 25% 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$1,088±$176 4% below ME |
| Dresden and Alna 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 |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Strong 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| 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.