What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has the highest household income ($75k).

Whiting has the shortest commute (22 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dresden	Whiting
People
Population	1,645Highest	506Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME	50±5Lowest 12% above ME
	Dresden and Whiting 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%	17.8%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Whiting and Dresden 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%	27.5%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Whiting 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%	34.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	2.8%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dresden and Whiting 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	$55,263±$2kLowest 26% below ME
	Dresden and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,100±$29kHighest 19% below ME	$214,200±$52kLowest 28% below ME
	Dresden and Whiting 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	$600±$333Lowest 47% below ME
	Dresden and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,500Highest 18% below ME	$1,728Lowest 43% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Whiting 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%	5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 35% above ME	22 minLowest 10% below ME
Work from home	6.7%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9%	5.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Dresden and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 02	Whiting Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.