Compare towns
Harrison vs Mapleton vs Phippsburg 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%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Phippsburg has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Mapleton | Phippsburg | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,513Highest |
1,884 |
2,238 |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
54.3±6.3 21% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Dresden 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Phippsburg 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
37.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Dresden 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Phippsburg and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$335,800±$47kHighest 13% above ME |
$240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
| Phippsburg and Harrison 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,022±$346 10% below ME |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
| Dresden and Phippsburg 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,034 33% below ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Phippsburg 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harrison and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.