Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Mapleton vs Hermon 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 the oldest population (median age 43).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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 | Hermon | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,884Lowest |
6,727 |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Highest 4% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.1±4.7Lowest 8% below ME |
42±3.6 6% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Gardiner 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%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.6%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Hermon 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% |
20.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ellsworth and Hermon 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 ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
37.6% 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% |
4.8%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$96,629±$22kHighest 29% above ME |
$71,782±$10kLowest 4% below ME |
| Hermon 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 |
$333,600±$32kHighest 12% above ME |
$221,600±$19k 25% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME |
$1,113±$191 about the ME average |
| Hermon and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Highest 7% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,761 9% below ME |
$2,742 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
28.2%±19.1 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% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
75.2% ME: 74.3% |
68.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.2 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 | — | #54 of 133 in ME | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hermon Public Schools | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | Hermon High School | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 14.6Highest |
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.