Compare towns
Dresden vs Ogunquit vs Bradley vs Wiscasset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bradley has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Wiscasset has the most renters (17.2% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Bradley | Wiscasset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,645 |
1,379Lowest |
1,645 |
3,874Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
42.6±9.7Lowest 5% below ME |
48.8±6.3 9% above 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.9%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Bradley and Dresden 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
28%±6.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Wiscasset 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Bradley 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$76,667±$28k about the ME average |
$71,118±$37kLowest 5% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Bradley 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$201,800±$37kLowest 32% below ME |
$325,200±$26k 10% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502 5% above ME |
— | $1,088±$325Lowest 4% below ME |
$1,518±$485Highest 33% above ME |
| Wiscasset 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,946Lowest 36% below ME |
$3,550 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±22.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.6%±15.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Bradley and Wiscasset 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.6% ME: 10.7% |
5.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
21.4%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Wiscasset 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 | — | — | — | #108 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 02 | — | RSU 34 | Wiscasset Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Wiscasset Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.2 |
| 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.