What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has the most people working from home (17.2%).

Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

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	Topsham	Ellsworth
People
Population	9,706Highest	8,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+8.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.7±4Highest about the ME average	43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME
	Topsham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%	18.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Topsham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%	22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Topsham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Highest ME: 36.2%	39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Ellsworth and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME
	Topsham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME	$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME	$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME
	Topsham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Highest 40% above ME	$3,262Lowest 7% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Ellsworth and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 3 yrs newer than ME	1980 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 133 in ME	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	5 photos →

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.