What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Ossipee has the most expensive homes ($326k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ellsworth	Ossipee
People
Population	8,657Highest	4,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S.	50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S.
	Ossipee and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ossipee and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ossipee and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Ossipee 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.	$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S.
	Ossipee and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.	$325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.	$4,401Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ossipee and Ellsworth 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%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	33 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ellsworth and Ossipee 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	#100 of 120 in NH
School district	Ellsworth Public Schools	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Ellsworth High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.