Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Brooks vs Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Gardiner has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Ellsworth | Brooks | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,208Lowest |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 4% below ME |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
42±3.6Lowest 6% below ME |
| Brooks and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Ellsworth and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ellsworth and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$71,782±$10k 4% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kHighest 18% below ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$221,600±$19k 25% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
$1,113±$191 about the ME average |
| Brooks and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Highest 7% above ME |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$2,742 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.6%±13.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
25 min about the ME average |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.9%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks and Gardiner 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 | — | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.