Compare towns

Ellsworth vs Ogunquit vs Needham

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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).

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.

MeasureEllsworthOgunquitNeedham
People
Population
8,657
1,379Lowest
32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±2.4Lowest
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.1%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
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±$18kLowest
4% below U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
—
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #63 of 133 in ME — #19 of 282 in MA
School district Ellsworth Public Schools — Needham
High school in town Ellsworth High School — Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
—
11.9Lowest
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.