What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most people working from home (21.9%).

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	Windham	Ellsworth
People
Population	16,038Highest	8,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.	43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S.
	Ellsworth and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#13 of 120 in NH	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Windham School District	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Windham High School	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	12.7Lowest
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.