Compare towns
Dedham vs Mapleton vs Newfields 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 kids (23.8% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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.
| Measure | Dedham | Mapleton | Newfields | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656Lowest |
1,884 |
2,023 |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Newfields 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942 26% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,262 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Newfields School District | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.