Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Mapleton vs Newfields vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,884 |
2,023 |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22k 27% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Newfields 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Newfields School District | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | None yet | None yet | 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.