Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Ripton vs Dedham vs Otis
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).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 54.7).
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 | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
508Lowest |
1,656 |
705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% 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. |
54.7±3.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Otis 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% |
16.6%±7.8 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% |
20.9%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%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%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$101,250±$27k 25% above 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. |
$282,500±$23k 15% 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±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,563±$734Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Otis and Dedham 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. |
$2,263Lowest 27% 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% |
35.7%±100 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% |
7.8%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% |
89.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer 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. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Dedham 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 | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | 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.