Compare towns
Whitefield vs Canton vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitefield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
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 | Whitefield | Canton | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,157Highest |
1,191Lowest |
1,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
| Dresden and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Whitefield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Whitefield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,875±$10k about the ME average |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average |
| Dresden and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$24kHighest 18% below ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
$240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
| Whitefield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$126 21% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
| Dresden and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,366 22% below ME |
$2,277Lowest 25% below ME |
$2,500Highest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 12 | — | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.