Compare towns
Dresden vs Parsonsfield vs Harrison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dresden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% under 18).
Harrison has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Parsonsfield | Harrison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645Lowest |
1,715 |
2,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.6% ME: +2.6% |
-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the ME average |
56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
| Harrison 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% |
25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Parsonsfield 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% |
18%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.8%±7.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Harrison and Dresden 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% |
21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Dresden and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average |
$72,045±$18k 4% below ME |
$56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
| Dresden and Parsonsfield 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 |
$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME |
$249,300±$70k 16% below ME |
| Parsonsfield and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$1,185±$312 4% above ME |
$885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
| Dresden and Parsonsfield 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 |
$2,350Lowest 23% below ME |
$2,731Highest 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Parsonsfield and Harrison 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% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
48 minHighest 97% above ME |
31 minLowest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 02 | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| 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.