Compare towns
Sandgate vs Ellsworth vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Sandgate | Ellsworth | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
8,657Highest |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Jay 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%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest 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. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
| Ellsworth and Jay 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. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
| Ellsworth and Jay 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. |
$3,262 5% above U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Jay 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | — | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.