Compare towns
Bath vs Ellsworth vs Francestown
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 most renters (35.7% rent).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Francestown has the most homeowners (95.3%).
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 | Ellsworth | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815Highest |
8,657 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Francestown and Ellsworth 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% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest 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% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$104,063±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$408,200±$34kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116 26% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,358±$256Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Francestown and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Francestown 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Ellsworth Public Schools | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.