Compare towns
Dresden vs Mount Desert vs Ogunquit 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 the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Mount Desert | Ogunquit | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,645 |
1,671Highest |
1,379 |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
54.9±8.2 23% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
| Ogunquit 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% |
14.1%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert 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% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert 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 |
$92,813±$9k 24% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
$522,100±$66k 76% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$367,400±$55k 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502 5% above ME |
$1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME |
— | $1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
| Mount Desert 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 |
$3,512 16% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,667 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26 ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
84.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 02 | Mount Desert Public Schools | — | — |
| High school 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.