Compare towns
Dedham vs Dummer vs Ellsworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Dummer has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% rent).
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 | Dedham | Dummer | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656 |
299Lowest |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$91,250±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$242,200±$51kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942Highest 26% above U.S. |
$2,898Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$3,262 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.