Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,943 |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Dedham 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 History | 5 photos → | 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.