Compare towns
Dresden vs Ogunquit vs Milbridge vs Waterford
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Milbridge has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Ogunquit | Milbridge | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,645Highest |
1,379 |
1,222Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
50.3±6.2Lowest 12% above ME |
54.3±1.6 21% 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% |
22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.9%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Milbridge 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% |
24.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Waterford and Ogunquit 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 |
$60,536±$16kLowest 19% below ME |
$66,071±$17k 12% below ME |
| Ogunquit 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±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$240,400±$31k 19% below ME |
$273,800±$36k 8% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
— | $619±$186Lowest 46% below ME |
$870±$405 24% below ME |
| Dresden and Waterford 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 |
$2,022 33% below ME |
$1,917Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.6%±34 ME: 48.4% |
| Milbridge and Waterford 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
34 minHighest 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 02 | — | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| 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.