Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Newfields 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k 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 | Newfields | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
2,023Lowest |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
42±3.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Ellsworth 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8Lowest 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±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$71,782±$10kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22k 27% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% 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% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below 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% |
25.5%±3.7Highest 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 | — | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Newfields School District | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.