Compare towns

Ellsworth vs Exeter vs Bath

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%).
Exeter has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Bath has the most people working from home (19.3%).

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.

MeasureEllsworthExeterBath
People
Population
8,657
1,093Lowest
8,815Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-11.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+3%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43±2.4Lowest
4% below ME
52.6±7.7Highest
17% above ME
45.4±3
about the ME average
Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.4%±3.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
9%±3.1Lowest
ME: 18.1%
15.5%±3.7
ME: 18.1%
Ellsworth and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
23.9%±11.4
ME: 22.4%
25.2%±4.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
Bath and Exeter 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%
15%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
42.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2
ME: 5.8%
3.4%±2.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.5%±2Highest
ME: 5.8%
Bath 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±$18k
4% above ME
$84,408±$12kHighest
13% above ME
$69,390±$12kLowest
7% below ME
Exeter 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±$22k
18% below ME
$166,700±$39kLowest
44% below ME
$310,900±$30kHighest
5% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,017±$195
11% below ME
$995±$386Lowest
13% below ME
$1,044±$116Highest
8% below ME
Bath and Ellsworth 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
$1,602Lowest
47% below ME
$3,847Highest
27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±15.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
33.3%±73.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
51.3%±15.2
ME: 48.4%
Ellsworth and Bath 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%
8.1%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
12.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.7%
ME: 74.3%
93.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
64.3%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1938Lowest
39 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
about the ME average
35 minHighest
43% above ME
24 minLowest
about the ME average
Work from home
7.1%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
10.3%±5.7
ME: 15.9%
19.3%±6Highest
ME: 15.9%
Bath and Exeter 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 — #31 of 133 in ME
School district Ellsworth Public Schools — RSU 01 - LKRSU
High school in town Ellsworth High School — Morse High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Lowest
—
14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 5 photos → 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.