Compare towns
Rockland vs Thomaston vs Ellsworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rockland has the most people working from home (22.1%).
Thomaston has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
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.
| Measure | Rockland | Thomaston | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,035 |
2,769Lowest |
8,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±6 10% above ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
| Thomaston and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,533±$6k 24% below ME |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME |
| Ellsworth and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$38k 17% below ME |
$271,700±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
| Thomaston and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,092±$105 4% below ME |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
| Thomaston and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,059 34% above ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±15.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 29 yrs older than ME |
1951 26 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 12 minLowest 50% below ME |
14 min 45% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 22.1%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #96 of 133 in ME | #99 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 | RSU 13 | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Oceanside High School | None in town | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 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.