Compare towns
Harrison vs Lincoln 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%).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($142k median).
Dresden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Lincoln | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,513 |
4,890Highest |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
52.4±3.4Lowest 17% 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% |
11.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dresden and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.6 ME: 22.4% |
32.1%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lincoln and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.3Lowest 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±$6k 24% below ME |
$56,089±$15kLowest 25% below ME |
$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average |
| Dresden and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,300±$70kHighest 16% below ME |
$141,500±$40kLowest 52% below ME |
$240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
| Harrison and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $885±$193 22% below ME |
$658±$28Lowest 42% below ME |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
| Dresden and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,731Highest 10% below ME |
$1,860Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
61.3%±34.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lincoln 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% |
16.5% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #94 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | Lincoln-Region 3 · RSU 67 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mattanawcook Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.