Compare towns
Harrison vs Eliot vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harrison has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Dresden has the most kids (17% 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 | Harrison | Eliot | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,513 |
7,146Highest |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
50.8±5.9Lowest 13% above ME |
55.1±7.9 23% 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 | 9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dresden and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Harrison and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% ME: 36.2% |
43.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest 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 | $56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
$101,522±$10kHighest 36% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Eliot and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,300±$70k 16% below ME |
$498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
| Eliot and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,731 10% below ME |
$4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
23 minLowest 9% below ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harrison and Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None 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.