What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sandgate	Ellsworth
People
Population	435Lowest	8,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S.	43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ellsworth and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sandgate and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S.	$77,375±$18kHighest 4% below U.S.
	Ellsworth and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S.	$242,300±$22kHighest 27% below U.S.
	Ellsworth and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,017±$195 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S.	$3,262Highest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 3% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sandgate and Ellsworth 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	—	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	—	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.