Compare towns
Richmond vs Union vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most renters (30.1% rent).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Richmond | Union | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,566Highest |
2,663 |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±3.8Lowest 18% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Dresden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Richmond and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,854±$10kLowest 12% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Union and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,700±$27k 18% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Union and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,077±$166Lowest 5% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
| Dresden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,143 4% above ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±23.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Richmond and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 19% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Richmond and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Richmond Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | Richmond High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.