Compare towns
Fairfield vs Ellsworth vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% rent).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Fairfield | Ellsworth | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
8,657Highest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Wallingford and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wallingford and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Highest 25% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfield 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Ellsworth Public Schools | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.