Compare towns
Harrison vs North Berwick 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%).
North Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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 | North Berwick | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,513 |
5,129Highest |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% below 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% |
21.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| North Berwick and Dresden 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% |
20.9%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Harrison and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| North Berwick 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 |
$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| North Berwick 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 |
$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,105±$116 about the ME average |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
| Dresden and North Berwick 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 |
$3,735Highest 23% above ME |
$2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| North Berwick 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% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 24% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harrison and North Berwick 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 | — | #82 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | Noble High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.