What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).

Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

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	Millis	Ellsworth
People
Population	8,888Highest	8,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S.	43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Millis and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22%	18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Millis and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S.	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S.	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S.	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,344Highest 200% above U.S.	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±16.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#63 of 282 in MA	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Millis	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Millis High School	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.7Highest
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.