Compare towns
Castle Hill vs Ellsworth vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castle Hill has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Ellsworth has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Castle Hill | Ellsworth | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 281Lowest |
8,657Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
43±2.4 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Castle Hill and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,250±$14kLowest 27% below ME |
$77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
$242,300±$22kHighest 18% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$574 17% below ME |
$1,017±$195Highest 11% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$3,262Highest 7% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Castle Hill and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Castle Hill 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.