Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Dedham vs Otis vs Trenton
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%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 54.7).
Trenton has the most people working from home (11.3%).
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 | Dedham | Otis | Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,656 |
705Lowest |
1,599 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
43.5±7.7 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Trenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
25.5%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Trenton 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% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Trenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
$60,455±$13kLowest 19% below ME |
| Dedham and Otis 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 |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$282,500±$23k 5% below ME |
$357,400±$36kHighest 20% above ME |
| Trenton and Dedham 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 |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,102±$241 3% below ME |
| Otis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 7% above ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
$2,310 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±20.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Trenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
77.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 22% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.3%±4.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Trenton and Dedham 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 | Dedham Public Schools | Otis Public Schools | Trenton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.