What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somersworth has the most people working from home (11.7%).

Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Somersworth	Ellsworth
People
Population	12,111Highest	8,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average	43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S.
	Ellsworth and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Somersworth and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S.	$77,375±$18kHighest 4% below U.S.
	Ellsworth and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$23kHighest 4% below U.S.	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,477±$134Highest 5% above U.S.	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,805Highest 118% above U.S.	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Somersworth 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	#117 of 120 in NH	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Somersworth School District	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Somersworth High School	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.7Highest
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.