Compare towns
Dresden vs Ogunquit vs Surry
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%).
Surry has the youngest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645 |
1,379Lowest |
1,836Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
52.4±5.6Lowest 17% 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%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Dresden and Surry 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% |
30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Surry 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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±$22k about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
| 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 |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
— | $969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
| Dresden and Surry 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 |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Dresden 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% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 02 | — | Surry Public Schools |
| 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.