Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Hampton vs Dedham vs Brewer
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%).
Hampton has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Hampton | Dedham | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657 |
10,101Highest |
1,656Lowest |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Brewer 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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% below U.S. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Hampton 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. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Dedham 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. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Brewer 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | — | Dedham Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | — | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | — | 14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.