Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Ripton vs Brewer vs Hermon
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).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Hermon has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Brewer | Hermon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657 |
508Lowest |
9,652Highest |
6,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7 6% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hermon and Brewer 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Brewer 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% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$96,629±$22k 20% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Hermon 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. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$333,600±$32k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,406±$202Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Brewer 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Hermon 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME | #54 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Brewer Public Schools | Hermon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | Brewer High School | Hermon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | 14.0 |
14.6Highest |
| 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.