Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Dover vs Trenton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has the highest household income ($77k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Trenton has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Dover | Trenton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,466Lowest |
1,599 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.5±7.7 12% above U.S. |
| Dover and Trenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Trenton 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Trenton 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% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$18kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$60,455±$13k 25% below U.S. |
| Ellsworth and Trenton 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. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$357,400±$36kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Trenton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,102±$241Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Trenton and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,310Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Trenton 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Trenton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.