What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lee has the most people working from home (16.4%).

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	Lee
People
Population	8,657Highest	5,719Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S.	55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ellsworth and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Lee 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.	$83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Lee and Ellsworth 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.	$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average
	Lee 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.	$3,980Highest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.3%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Lee 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%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	18 minLowest 31% below U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lee 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	#209 of 282 in MA
School district	Ellsworth Public Schools	Lee
High school in town	Ellsworth High School	Lee Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	9.2Lowest
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.