Compare towns
Steuben vs Ellsworth vs Stetson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% 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.
| Measure | Steuben | Ellsworth | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,388 |
8,657Highest |
1,151Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
43±2.4Highest 4% below ME |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±1 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME |
$76,023±$28kLowest about the ME average |
| Ellsworth and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$242,300±$22kHighest 18% below ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
$1,017±$195Highest 11% below ME |
$800±$377 30% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,029 33% below ME |
$3,262Highest 7% above ME |
$1,962Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 14% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Steuben and Stetson 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 | RSU 24 | 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 |
ME 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.