Compare towns
Bath vs Ellsworth vs Needham
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).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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.
| Measure | Bath | Ellsworth | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815 |
8,657Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Bath and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116 26% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Ellsworth Public Schools | Needham |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Ellsworth High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.7 |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 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.