Compare towns
Whitefield vs North Berwick 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 most homeowners (91.5%).
North Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | North Berwick | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,157 |
5,129Highest |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% 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% |
21.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| North Berwick 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% |
20.9%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| North Berwick and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average |
$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| North Berwick and Dresden 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 |
$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
$1,105±$116 about the ME average |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
| Dresden and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,366Lowest 22% below ME |
$3,735Highest 23% above ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| North Berwick and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% ME: 10.7% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| North Berwick and Whitefield 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 | — | #82 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 12 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | Noble High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.