Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Steuben vs Orland
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%).
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
Orland has the most people working from home (17%).
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 | Steuben | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,388Lowest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 4% below ME |
40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Steuben 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% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME |
$76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$69,348±$29kLowest 7% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Steuben 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 |
$173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
| Orland and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Highest 7% above ME |
$2,029Lowest 33% below ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Orland 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% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 14% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Steuben 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 | RSU 24 | — |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.