Compare towns
Harrison vs Wells 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%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,513 |
11,713Highest |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
53.6±3.8Lowest 20% 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%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wells 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% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells 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 |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Wells 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
| Wells 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 |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
28 minLowest 12% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harrison and Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.