Compare towns

Brookfield vs Ellsworth vs Marlow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.7%).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldEllsworthMarlow
People
Population
567Lowest
8,657Highest
855
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.1±9.7Highest
49% above U.S.
43±2.4Lowest
11% above U.S.
52.8±11.7
36% above U.S.
Brookfield and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
8.6%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Marlow and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
38.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±5.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,406±$31k
about the U.S. average
$77,375±$18kLowest
4% below U.S.
$110,455±$12kHighest
37% above U.S.
Marlow and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$428,000±$61kHighest
29% above U.S.
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
$325,400±$49k
about the U.S. average
Brookfield and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,154±$160Highest
18% below U.S.
Marlow and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,926Highest
90% above U.S.
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
$5,826
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
18.2%±95.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
Work from home
13.7%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield and Ellsworth 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 — #63 of 133 in ME —
School district — Ellsworth Public Schools Marlow School District
High school in town — Ellsworth High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 5 photos → 4 photos →

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.