Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Kittery vs Wayne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Kittery has the most expensive homes ($469k median).
Wayne has the most homeowners (89.9%).
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 | Kittery | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
10,473Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
46.8±2.3 4% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Ellsworth and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Kittery 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 ME: 36.2% |
46% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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±$18kLowest 4% above ME |
$93,728±$14kHighest 25% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| Kittery and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$468,500±$31kHighest 58% above ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$1,716±$224Highest 51% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
$4,518Highest 49% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
67.2% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.