Compare towns
Dresden vs Mapleton vs Woolwich 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 most affordable homes ($192k median).
Woolwich has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Mapleton | Woolwich | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,645 |
1,884 |
3,158Highest |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
55.8±5.5Highest 25% above ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
| Woolwich 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% |
15%±5.5Lowest 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%±8 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Woolwich 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1 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±$22kLowest about the ME average |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$102,175±$26kHighest 37% above ME |
$93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
| Woolwich 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±$29k 19% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$254,500±$59k 14% below ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
| Alna and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% 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 |
$2,433 20% 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% |
64.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Woolwich 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% |
13.3%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% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Alna and Woolwich 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 | — | — | #92 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 02 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 01 - LKRSU | — |
| 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.