Compare towns
Whitefield vs Dresden vs Deer Isle
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 most homeowners (91.5%).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Deer Isle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Dresden | Deer Isle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,157 |
1,645Lowest |
2,470Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2Lowest 16% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
52.6±5.6 17% above ME |
| Dresden and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Whitefield and Dresden 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% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Whitefield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average |
$62,284±$15kLowest 17% below ME |
| 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±$24k 18% below ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
$308,300±$42kHighest 4% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
$1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME |
| Deer Isle and Dresden 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 |
$2,500Highest 18% below ME |
$1,890Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±22.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25.4%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Whitefield and Deer Isle 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% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
20 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Deer Isle 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 | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
| 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.