Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Stark 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%).
Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
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 | Stark | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
419Lowest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest 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% |
27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark 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% |
17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$71,750±$23kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22k 27% below U.S. |
$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$356,400±$33kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Ellsworth 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. |
$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,942Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stark 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stark 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 | Stark 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 Our Story | 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.