What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterford has the most people working from home (18.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Waterford	Dresden
People
Population	1,295Lowest	1,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.3±1.6Lowest 21% above ME	55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME
	Dresden and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.9%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dresden and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.7%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4%	24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Waterford and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5% ME: 36.2%	30.5% ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8%	3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Waterford and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,071±$17kLowest 12% below ME	$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average
	Dresden and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,800±$36kHighest 8% below ME	$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME
	Waterford and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$870±$405Lowest 24% below ME	$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME
	Dresden and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,917Lowest 37% below ME	$2,500Highest 18% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.6%±34Highest ME: 48.4%	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Waterford and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2% ME: 74.3%	88.2% ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 40% above ME	33 minLowest 35% above ME
Work from home	18.8%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	RSU 17/MSAD 17	RSU 02
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.