Compare towns
Danforth vs Dedham vs Ellsworth vs Monticello
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Monticello has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Danforth | Dedham | Ellsworth | Monticello |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,656 |
8,657Highest |
674 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
52.7±6 18% above ME |
| Danforth and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
28.2%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Monticello and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
39.3% ME: 36.2% |
9.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
$51,875±$13k 31% below ME |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
$125,800±$36k 58% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$833±$434 27% below ME |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270 58% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,262 7% above ME |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
19.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Dedham 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 | — | — | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Dedham Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ellsworth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.