What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Carmel has the most homeowners (87.9%).

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	Carmel
People
Population	8,657Highest	2,941Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME	46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME
	Carmel and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.6%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%
	Carmel and Ellsworth 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%	16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Ellsworth and Carmel 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%	17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME	$82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME
	Carmel and Ellsworth 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	$256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME
	Carmel and Ellsworth 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	$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME
	Carmel and Ellsworth 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	$2,662Lowest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4%	56.4%±38.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Ellsworth and Carmel 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%	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	7.1%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9%	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Ellsworth and Carmel 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	#77 of 133 in ME
School district	Ellsworth Public Schools	RSU 87/MSAD 23
High school in town	Ellsworth High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	5 photos →	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.