Compare towns
Dresden vs Mercer vs Woolwich
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 renters (11.8% rent).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Woolwich has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Mercer | Woolwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645 |
718Lowest |
3,158Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
55.8±5.5Highest 25% above 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% |
20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer and Dresden 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% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Woolwich and Mercer 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% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Dresden and Woolwich 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 |
$71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME |
$102,175±$26kHighest 37% above ME |
| Woolwich and Dresden 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 |
$238,500±$32kLowest 20% below ME |
$254,500±$59kHighest 14% below ME |
| Woolwich and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Lowest 5% above ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
— |
| Mercer and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500Highest 18% below ME |
$1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,433 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Woolwich and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Mercer 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 01 - LKRSU |
| High school 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.