Compare towns
Ellsworth vs South Eliot vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
South Eliot has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% 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 | South Eliot | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
4,203 |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
| South Eliot and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
49.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| 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% above ME |
$99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Dedham and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$475,600±$52kHighest 60% above ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
| South Eliot and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
$4,442Highest 46% above ME |
$3,942 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| South Eliot 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 | — | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.