Compare towns
Rockland vs Wells 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 shortest commute (12 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Ellsworth has the youngest population (median age 43).
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 | Wells | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,035Lowest |
11,713Highest |
8,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±6 10% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
| Wells 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% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Ellsworth and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wells 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
39.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,533±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
| Wells and Ellsworth 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,092±$105 4% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
| Wells and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,059Highest 34% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,262 7% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±15.3 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Rockland 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% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 29 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 12 minLowest 50% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 22.1%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Rockland and Wells 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 | #96 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Oceanside High School | Wells High School | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
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.