What stands out worked out from the figures below

Conway has the most people working from home (13.4%).

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	Conway	Ellsworth
People
Population	10,141Highest	8,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S.	43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S.	$77,375±$18kHighest 4% below U.S.
	Ellsworth and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$314,000±$43kHighest 6% below U.S.	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,095±$141Highest 23% below U.S.	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Conway and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,087Highest 31% above U.S.	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Conway 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	#76 of 120 in NH	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Conway School District	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Kennett High School	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.