Compare towns
Brunswick vs Dover 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
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dover has the highest household income ($95k).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Brunswick | Dover | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
33,364Highest |
8,657Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brunswick and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
| Dover and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18k 9% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100 4% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Dover and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477 44% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Brunswick 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 | #30 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
12.7 |
| 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.