Compare towns
Whitefield 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 people working from home (13.5%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Surry | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,157Highest |
1,836 |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2Lowest 16% above ME |
52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
| Dresden and Surry 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% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry 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% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest 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±$10kLowest about the ME average |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average |
| Dresden and Surry 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 |
$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Surry and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$2,500Highest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest 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% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Whitefield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 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.