Compare towns

Kittery vs Wilder vs Ellsworth

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Ellsworth has the most kids (18.4% 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.

MeasureKitteryWilderEllsworth
People
Population
10,473Highest
3,087Lowest
8,657
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above U.S.
45.5±8.9
17% above U.S.
43±2.4Lowest
11% above U.S.
Kittery and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ellsworth and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Wilder and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,728±$14kHighest
16% above U.S.
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
$77,375±$18k
4% below U.S.
Kittery and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$468,500±$31kHighest
41% above U.S.
$273,200±$18k
18% below U.S.
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,716±$224Highest
21% above U.S.
$1,142±$451
19% below U.S.
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
Kittery and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,518
45% above U.S.
$5,505Highest
76% above U.S.
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
66.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
24% below U.S.
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
25 minHighest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kittery and Wilder 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 #17 of 133 in ME — #63 of 133 in ME
School district Kittery Public Schools — Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town Robert W Traip Academy — Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
—
12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.