Compare towns
Whitefield vs Ogunquit vs Surry 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%).
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 | Surry | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,157Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,836 |
1,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2Lowest 16% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
52.4±5.6 17% 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% |
16.6%±3.7 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% |
30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Surry 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% |
38.1% 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%±1Lowest 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 |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
— | $969±$129 15% below ME |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
| Dresden and Surry 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below 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% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry 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% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 12 | — | Surry Public Schools | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.