Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Starks 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%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
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 | Starks | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
556Lowest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
| Starks 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% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest 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%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ellsworth and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest 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±$18k 4% above ME |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| 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 18% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 7% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dedham and Ellsworth 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 History | 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.