What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).

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	Dedham
People
Population	8,657Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.
	Dedham 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%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham 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 U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ellsworth and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham 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±$18kLowest 4% below U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Dedham 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%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#63 of 133 in ME	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Ellsworth Public Schools	Dedham
High school in town	Ellsworth High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	5 photos →	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.