What stands out worked out from the figures below

Caribou has the most people working from home (12.5%).

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	Caribou	Ellsworth
People
Population	7,382Lowest	8,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.3±1.7Highest 15% above ME	43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Ellsworth and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4%	22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Caribou and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	39.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Ellsworth and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,709±$9kLowest 28% below ME	$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME
	Ellsworth and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$134,100±$31kLowest 55% below ME	$242,300±$22kHighest 18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$757±$143Lowest 34% below ME	$1,017±$195Highest 11% below ME
	Ellsworth and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,680Lowest 45% below ME	$3,262Highest 7% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.3%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Ellsworth and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 40% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	12.5%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Caribou 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	#59 of 133 in ME	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 39	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Caribou High School	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	12.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	5 photos →

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.