Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Mapleton vs Dedham vs Orland
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).
Orland has the most people working from home (17%).
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 | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,884 |
1,656Lowest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
| Orland and Dedham 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% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest 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%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland 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±$18k 4% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$69,348±$29kLowest 7% 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 |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
| Dedham and Orland 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 |
$2,089 31% 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% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Orland 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% 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% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Dedham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.