Dresden offers open space and rich history in Midcoast Maine
Tucked in the heart of Maine’s Midcoast region is the small town of Dresden, a rural community along the Kennebec and Easton Rivers. “We have two blinking lights and a couple of stop signs. It’s actually pretty nice,” says Jeffrey Pierce, Realtor/owner of Jeff Pierce Realty, Inc., and a Dresden resident of nearly three decades. “It’s a beautiful town with lots of farmland, open space and woodland. We’re also a nice bedroom community, about 8 miles from Bath.” Since its incorporation in 1794, Pierce says that Dresden’s population has barely fluctuated from its population of approximately 1,700 residents: “It’s remained really quiet here.” The town’s historic aspect and properties are a prominent draw to the area, with places like the Pownalborough Courthouse attracting residents and out-of-town visitors alike. “It’s one of the oldest surviving courthouses in America, and it’s a great visit if you’re into history,” Pierce says. “Back when the rivers were used as highways, the courthouse had the jail in one room and the local tavern right next door.” Dresden has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Homes range from historic Colonials to double-wides on acreage
Dresden has a mix of housing styles, with many custom-built homes and others that have belonged to local families for multiple generations. “All the homes are pretty spread out. There are lots of New Englanders, a lot of the older houses are Colonials, and you’ll also find some ranches and double-wide homes. Property taxes are pretty reasonable, and you get good space in terms of land. There’s some really nice historic housing stock; my house is from the 1760s, and one of the homes I’m working on right now has been in the same family since it was built in the 1750s,” Pierce says. The median lot size in Dresden is nearly 1.5 acres, but Pierce says that some properties can sit on dozens of acres. Single-family homes here mostly range from $220,000 to $450,000, though some houses on close to 30 acres have sold for as much as $750,000. Dresden has an average home value of a little more than $410,000, notably lower than the average home value for the greater Portland Metro Area, which is approximately $640,000.
Open enrollment options for Dresden students
Students in Dresden are zoned for Kennebec Intra-District Schools RSU 2, also known as MSAD 2, which receives an overall C-plus rating from Niche, but Maine also offers inter-district and intra-district open enrollment options. Dresden Elementary School is rated B-minus and serves prekindergarten through fifth grade. Grades six through 12 can attend the C-plus-rated Hall-Dale Middle and High School; secondary students in ninth through 12th grade also have the option to go to Monmouth Academy, a B-minus-rated school. Hall-Dale Middle and High School’s athletic department offers 10 sports, including ice hockey, swimming and basketball teams.
Kennebec and Easton Rivers shape outdoor life in Dresden
Much of Dresden’s outdoor recreation revolves around its two rivers: Kennebec and Easton. The former acts as the town’s western border, while the latter runs through the middle. “The Easton River is the one that divides the town, and although there was never any major industry on it like the Kennebec River, it has always been popular for fishing,” Pierce says. “Meanwhile, the Kennebec flows from Moosehead Lake all the way out to the Atlantic.” Residents can find hiking and scenic observation sites in several public lands in this area, including Green Point Wildlife Management Area and Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area on the Kennebec River’s Swan Island. “We’ve got all kinds of public lands with wildlife fisheries and preserves,” Pierce says.
Richmond and Bath offer more dining and shopping choices
Dresden is a primarily residential town with limited commercial amenities; however, the town is within a short drive of several larger hubs with shopping and dining options. “You can get anywhere you need to be within 15 minutes,” Pierce says. Directly opposite the town across the Kennebec River is the town of Richmond, which has a small waterfront area with boutiques and locally owned restaurants. “A lot of people in Dresden go to work in Bath, so they’ll stop by the Shaw’s there for groceries. If they work in Augusta, they’ll go to the Hannaford there,” Pierce says. “There is a really great sandwich shop in town at the local gas station and convenience store called Dresden Take Out. They also do really good breakfast options.”
Driving along State Routes 27 and 197
Dresden has no public transit system and most residents drive their cars for daily transportation needs. Two main roads run through town: Maine State Routes 27 and 197. Route 27 runs north-south from the coastal town of Wiscasset into Canada, while Route 197 takes commuters west into Richmond. The nearest airport, Portland International Jetport, is approximately 50 miles from Dresden. MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital is under a 30-minute drive away and has a 24-emergency department.
