Compare towns
Dresden vs Smithfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
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 | Smithfield | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645Highest |
856 |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
| Smithfield 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% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
| Smithfield 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 |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
| Dresden and Smithfield 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 |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
33 minLowest 32% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 02 | — | — |
| High school 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.