Compare towns
Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Ellsworth vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Ogunquit | Ellsworth | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,379Lowest |
8,657 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 68% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
— | $1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 9% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #63 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ellsworth High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.