Compare towns
Bath vs Durham vs Ellsworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the oldest population (median age 45.4).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Bath | Durham | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815 |
15,080Highest |
8,657Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
| Bath and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116 26% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Bath 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Oyster River Coop School District | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Oyster River High School | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.