Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Ripton vs Dedham vs Orland
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 renters (33.3% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Dedham | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
508Lowest |
1,656 |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Orland and Ripton 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% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Orland 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$69,348±$29kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Dedham 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. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$277,100±$20k 17% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Dedham 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. |
— | $1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Orland 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. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% 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% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Orland 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Dedham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.