Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Needham vs Orland
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 most renters (33.3% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
32,459Highest |
1,915Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orland and Needham 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. |
$69,348±$29kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$277,100±$20k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% 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% |
45%±23.8Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | — | — |
| 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.