What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).

Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Hampden	Ellsworth
People
Population	7,896Lowest	8,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	43±2.4Highest 4% below ME
	Ellsworth and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	18.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Ellsworth and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average	$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME
	Hampden and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME	$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME
	Hampden and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Highest 22% above ME	$3,262Lowest 7% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 7% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 22	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	12.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.