Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Hanson vs Dedham
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%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Dedham has the most people working from home (9.3%).
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.
| Measure | Ellsworth | Hanson | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
10,660Highest |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Ellsworth 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% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth and Hanson 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% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Dedham 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. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
| Hanson 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. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Ellsworth 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Hanson 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Whitman-Hanson | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.