What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Bucksport has the most people working from home (10.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ellsworth	Bucksport
People
Population	8,657Highest	5,016Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43±2.4Highest 4% below ME	42.7±12.2Lowest 5% below ME
	Ellsworth and Bucksport 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%	17.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Ellsworth and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.6%±7.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Bucksport and Ellsworth 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%	27.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	2.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Ellsworth and Bucksport 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	$64,720±$21kLowest 13% below ME
	Ellsworth and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME	$252,300±$32kHighest 15% below ME
	Bucksport and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$195Highest 11% below ME	$882±$92Lowest 23% below ME
	Ellsworth and Bucksport 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	$2,021Lowest 33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4%	48.9%±17Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Ellsworth and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	74.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	28 minHighest 15% above ME
Work from home	7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bucksport 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	#68 of 133 in ME
School district	Ellsworth Public Schools	RSU 25
High school in town	Ellsworth High School	Bucksport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.