What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brooks	Ellsworth
People
Population	1,208Lowest	8,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average	43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME
	Brooks and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Ellsworth and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Ellsworth and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	39.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Brooks and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME	$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME
	Ellsworth and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME	$242,300±$22kHighest 18% below ME
	Ellsworth and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average	$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME
	Brooks and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,096Lowest 31% below ME	$3,262Highest 7% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	19.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.