Compare towns
Sheffield vs Ellsworth vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Ellsworth has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Marshfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Sheffield | Ellsworth | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573 |
8,657Highest |
470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.4±8.8 9% above U.S. |
| Ellsworth and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheffield and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$84,375±$20kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Marshfield and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$178,300±$31k 46% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$1,125±$79Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Marshfield and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$3,262 5% above U.S. |
$3,269Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±62.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Ellsworth Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | — |
| 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.