What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton 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	Dalton	Ellsworth
People
Population	6,256Lowest	8,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S.	43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Dalton and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dalton and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dalton and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$8kHighest about the U.S. average	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Dalton and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,700±$26kHighest 11% below U.S.	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,017±$195Highest 28% below U.S.
	Ellsworth and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Highest 37% above U.S.	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Central Berkshire	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	5 photos →

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.