Compare towns
Whitefield vs Ogunquit vs Eliot 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 kids (17.6% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Eliot | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,157 |
1,379Lowest |
7,146Highest |
1,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
50.8±5.9Lowest 13% above ME |
55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Dresden 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 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%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Whitefield 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.6% ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Eliot 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$498,900±$62k 68% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
— | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
| Eliot and Dresden 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 |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26 ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 minLowest 9% below ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 12 | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.