Compare towns

Ellsworth vs Gray vs Newfields

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 most affordable homes ($242k median).
Gray has the most kids (19% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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.

MeasureEllsworthGrayNewfields
People
Population
8,657Highest
8,429
2,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±2.4Lowest
11% above U.S.
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Highest
13% above U.S.
Newfields and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
Gray and Newfields 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%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ellsworth and Gray 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%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,375±$18kLowest
4% below U.S.
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
$3,683
18% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Gray 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%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #63 of 133 in ME #10 of 133 in ME —
School district Ellsworth Public Schools RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Newfields School District
High school in town Ellsworth High School Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
12.5Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.