What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Holbrook has the most expensive homes ($465k 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.

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

Measure	Ellsworth	Holbrook
People
Population	8,657Lowest	11,380Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S.	42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Ellsworth and Holbrook 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%	21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Holbrook and Ellsworth 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%	19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ellsworth and Holbrook 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%	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Holbrook 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.	$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.	$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,094±$423Highest 23% below U.S.
	Holbrook 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.	$6,105Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.8%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Holbrook 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%	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Holbrook 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	#234 of 282 in MA
School district	Ellsworth Public Schools	Holbrook
High school in town	Ellsworth High School	Holbrook Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	5 photos →	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.