What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holbrook has the most expensive homes ($465k median).

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	Holbrook	Ellsworth
People
Population	11,380Highest	8,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S.	43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S.
	Ellsworth and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Holbrook and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ellsworth and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S.	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S.	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,094±$423Highest 23% below U.S.	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Holbrook and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,105Highest 96% above U.S.	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Holbrook 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	#234 of 282 in MA	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Holbrook	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Holbrook Middle High School	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	12.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	5 photos →

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.