Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Sharon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Sharon has the most people working from home (12.7%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Sharon | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,577Lowest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Sharon 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% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Dedham 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. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Sharon 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. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Sharon 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. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sharon 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 | Sharon School District | 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 |
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.