Compare towns

Ellsworth vs Ogunquit vs Upton 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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.

MeasureEllsworthOgunquitUptonGardiner
People
Population
8,657Highest
1,379Lowest
8,189
6,088
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±2.4
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
42±3.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Ellsworth and Ogunquit 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.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$71,782±$10kLowest
11% below U.S.
Upton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$22k
27% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
$221,600±$19kLowest
33% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,017±$195
28% below U.S.
—
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,113±$191Highest
21% below U.S.
Gardiner and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,262
5% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$2,742Lowest
12% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±13.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Upton 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr 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
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
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 — #46 of 282 in MA #36 of 133 in ME
School district Ellsworth Public Schools — Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton RSU 11/MSAD 11
High school in town Ellsworth High School — Blackstone Valley Gardiner Area High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
—
11.2Lowest
11.8
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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.