What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Franklin has the most people working from home (8.3%).

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.

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

Measure	Ellsworth	Franklin
People
Population	8,657Lowest	8,799Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S.	42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Ellsworth and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ellsworth and Franklin 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%	21.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ellsworth and Franklin 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%	19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Franklin 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.	$71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Ellsworth and Franklin 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.	$262,200±$22kHighest 21% below U.S.
	Franklin and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S.
	Franklin and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.	$4,886Highest 57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Franklin 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%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Franklin 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	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Ellsworth Public Schools	Franklin School District
High school in town	Ellsworth High School	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Lowest	16.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.