Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Mapleton vs Dedham vs Gardiner
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Gardiner has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Mapleton | Dedham | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,884 |
1,656Lowest |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
42±3.6 6% below ME |
| 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%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ellsworth and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Mapleton 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% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$71,782±$10kLowest 4% below ME |
| Dedham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$221,600±$19k 25% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,113±$191 about the ME average |
| Dedham and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 7% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,742 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.6%±13.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
13.9%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Gardiner and Mapleton 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 | — | — | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | None in town | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.