Compare towns
Eliot vs West Bath vs Ellsworth
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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | West Bath | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,863Lowest |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
| West Bath and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Ellsworth and Eliot 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% |
29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| West Bath 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% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and West Bath 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 |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME |
| West Bath 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±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
| Eliot and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,112±$327 about the ME average |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$3,516 16% above ME |
$3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest 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% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 9% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Eliot and West Bath 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | West Bath Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.