Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Wells 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 the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
11,713Highest |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Lowest 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%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Wells 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 |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Dedham and Wells 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Wells 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 |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Wells 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% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 12% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.