Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Trenton vs Gardiner
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%).
Trenton has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Gardiner has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Trenton | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,599Lowest |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 4% below ME |
43.5±7.7Highest about the ME average |
42±3.6Lowest 6% below ME |
| Trenton and Ellsworth 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% |
20.1%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Trenton 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% |
25.5%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Trenton 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% ME: 36.2% |
42.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Trenton 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 |
$60,455±$13kLowest 19% below ME |
$71,782±$10k 4% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Gardiner 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 |
$357,400±$36kHighest 20% above ME |
$221,600±$19kLowest 25% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,102±$241 3% below ME |
$1,113±$191Highest about the ME average |
| Gardiner and Trenton 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 |
$2,310Lowest 24% below ME |
$2,742 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±20.4 ME: 48.4% |
44.6%±13.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Trenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 min 17% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.3%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
13.9%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Gardiner and Trenton 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 | — | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Trenton Public Schools | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.