Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Needham vs Gardiner
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 the shortest commute (25 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
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 | Needham | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
32,459Highest |
6,088Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42±3.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$71,782±$10kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22k 27% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | — | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.