Compare towns

Bath vs Sturbridge 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 most renters (35.7% rent).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

MeasureBathSturbridgeEllsworth
People
Population
8,815
9,960Highest
8,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±3
17% above U.S.
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
43±2.4Lowest
11% above U.S.
Sturbridge 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%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge 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%
19.8%±3Lowest
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%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2
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.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
$77,375±$18k
4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$310,900±$30k
7% below U.S.
$425,800±$18kHighest
28% above U.S.
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$116
26% below U.S.
$1,193±$398Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
Sturbridge 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.
$6,520Highest
109% above U.S.
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±15.2
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Bath 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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
66.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sturbridge 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 #89 of 282 in MA #63 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Sturbridge · Tantasqua Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town Morse High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
7.7Lowest
12.7
On TownTapestry
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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.