What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

Ellsworth has the most people working from home (23.1%).

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	Ryegate	Ellsworth
People
Population	1,059Highest	51Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.	61.8±13.1Highest 59% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±59.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ryegate and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	39.2%±46.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ellsworth and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±33.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ryegate and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S.	$89,375±$39kHighest 11% above U.S.
	Ellsworth and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.	$350,000±$170kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Ellsworth and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$236 36% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S.	$3,813Highest 22% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1%	—
Below poverty line	14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	100%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 min 5% above U.S.	—
Work from home	8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.1%±26.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ellsworth and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

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.