What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).

Ellsworth has the most people working from home (23.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfield	Ellsworth
People
Population	1,938Highest	51Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	61.8±13.1Highest 59% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±59.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Fairfield and Ellsworth 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%	39.2%±46.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ellsworth and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±33.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairfield and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,019±$22kLowest 8% above U.S.	$89,375±$39kHighest 11% above U.S.
	Ellsworth and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$320,600±$22kLowest 4% below U.S.	$350,000±$170kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Ellsworth and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,056±$441 25% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,816Highest 54% above U.S.	$3,813Lowest 22% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1%	—
Below poverty line	5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	100%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 min 8% below U.S.	—
Work from home	7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.1%±26.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ellsworth and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Maple Run Unified Union School District #57	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	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.