What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westbrook has the most people working from home (17.8%).

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	Westbrook	Ellsworth
People
Population	20,775Highest	8,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	+8.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME	43±2.4Highest 4% below ME
Kids under 18	18.5%±2.4Highest ME: 18.1%	18.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Westbrook and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Ellsworth and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Westbrook and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,038±$7kHighest 14% above ME	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME
	Westbrook and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$383,300±$19kHighest 29% above ME	$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,392±$74Highest 22% above ME	$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,005Highest 32% above ME	$3,262Lowest 7% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.1%±7.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Ellsworth and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	66.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	17.8%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#115 of 133 in ME	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Westbrook Public Schools	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Westbrook High School	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.