Compare towns
Dresden vs Smithfield vs Woolwich
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%).
Woolwich has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Woolwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645 |
856Lowest |
3,158Highest |
| 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±7.9Lowest 23% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
55.8±5.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Dresden and Woolwich 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% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Woolwich and Smithfield 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% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$102,175±$26k 37% above ME |
| Smithfield and Woolwich 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 |
$254,500±$59kHighest 14% below ME |
| Woolwich and Smithfield 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 |
$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
— |
| Dresden and Smithfield 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 |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,433Lowest 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Woolwich and Smithfield 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Woolwich 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 | — | — | #92 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 02 | — | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| 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.