What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

Chatham has the most expensive homes ($363k 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.

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

Measure	Ellsworth	Chatham
People
Population	8,657Highest	430Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S.	48.3±8.6Highest 24% above U.S.
	Chatham 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 U.S.: 22%	21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Chatham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.5%±10Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chatham 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 U.S.: 35.7%	38.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chatham 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% below U.S.	$66,042±$19kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Ellsworth and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.	$362,900±$42kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$195 28% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.	$3,690Highest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	7.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Chatham 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	—
School district	Ellsworth Public Schools	—
High school in town	Ellsworth High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.