Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Gardiner vs Rye
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Gardiner | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
6,088 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
42±3.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Gardiner 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% below U.S. |
$71,782±$10kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22k 27% below U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Gardiner 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% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | #36 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Gardiner Area High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.8Lowest |
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| 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.