Compare towns
Harrison vs Readfield 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 oldest population (median age 56).
Readfield has the most expensive homes ($326k 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 | Readfield | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,513 |
2,651Highest |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% 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% |
18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Readfield 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 |
$86,504±$8kHighest 16% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Readfield 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 |
$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Readfield and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
| Dresden and Readfield 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 |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Readfield 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% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Lowest 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 |
30 minLowest 20% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±9.4 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield and Harrison 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 38 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.