What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arundel has the most expensive homes ($421k median).

Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Arundel	Ellsworth
People
Population	4,418Lowest	8,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.9±6.4Lowest 9% below ME	43±2.4Highest 4% below ME
	Ellsworth and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%	18.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Arundel and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Ellsworth and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	39.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Ellsworth and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,597±$17kHighest 36% above ME	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME
	Arundel and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$421,300±$62kHighest 42% above ME	$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$495Highest 41% above ME	$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME
	Arundel and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,763Highest 24% above ME	$3,262Lowest 7% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.2%±22.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Ellsworth and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 7% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	7%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Ellsworth and Arundel 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	#7 of 133 in ME	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 21	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.