Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Ogunquit vs Wolfeboro 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 most kids (18.4% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Wolfeboro | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,379Lowest |
6,571 |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
42±3.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Gardiner 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% |
34.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Wolfeboro 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% 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% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$71,782±$10kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Wolfeboro 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. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,113±$191Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Gardiner and Wolfeboro 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. |
$4,531Highest 45% 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% |
12%±11.6 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% 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% |
78.1% 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. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 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 120 in NH | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | — | Kingswood Regional High School | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.