Compare towns
Dresden vs Sumner vs Richmond
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 highest household income ($75k).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Richmond has the most kids (23% 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 | Sumner | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645 |
845Lowest |
3,566Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
36.9±3.8Lowest 18% below ME |
| Sumner and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
23%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Richmond and Sumner 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.6%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Richmond 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±$22kHighest about the ME average |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$65,854±$10k 12% below ME |
| Dresden and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$242,700±$27kHighest 18% below ME |
| Richmond and Dresden 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 |
— | $1,077±$166Lowest 5% below ME |
| Dresden and Richmond 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 |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$3,143Highest 4% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
47%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Richmond 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% |
12.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
69.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
29 minLowest 19% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 02 | RSU 10 | Richmond Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Richmond High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| 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.