Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Rye vs Windham vs Dedham
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Rye | Windham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657 |
5,611 |
16,038Highest |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dedham 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Windham 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Windham and Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Windham 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Windham 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Rye School District | Windham School District | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.