Compare towns
Orland vs Deer Isle vs Ellsworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orland has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Deer Isle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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.
| Measure | Orland | Deer Isle | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,915Lowest |
2,470 |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
52.6±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
| Deer Isle and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Ellsworth and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Orland and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35.9% ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$62,284±$15kLowest 17% below ME |
$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME |
| Ellsworth and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
$308,300±$42kHighest 4% above ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
| Deer Isle and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$177 about the ME average |
$1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
| Deer Isle and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,089 31% below ME |
$1,890Lowest 38% below ME |
$3,262Highest 7% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
25.4%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 62% above ME |
20 minLowest 17% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
22%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Deer Isle and Orland 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 | — | — | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.