The Town FilesEllsworth, Maine
City in Hancock County · population 8,399 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $242,300
- Household income
- $77,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 43.0
Ellsworth is a city of 8,399 people in Hancock County, Maine. The median home is worth $242,300, close to the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better transit than 93% of Maine towns, more seaside character than 77% of Maine towns, more vibrant than 75% of Maine towns.
How Ellsworth ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ellsworth is worth $242,300, close to the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $77,375, which is more affordable than 64% of Maine towns. Median rent is $1,017 a month. 66.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ellsworth | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $242,300 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $1,017 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $77,375 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 66.7% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.5% | — |
Who lives in Ellsworth
| People | Ellsworth | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.3% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 90.0% |
Weather in Ellsworth
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 10.6°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.6 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Ellsworth since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on July 2, 2022.
Severe weather in Hancock County since 1996
Hancock County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4754: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4522: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3444: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Hancock County
Hancock County had 23,631 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,780 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Ellsworth itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Ellsworth
3 public schools with 1,280 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School | K-8 | 744 | 10.9 |
| Ellsworth High School | 9-12 | 536 | 12.8 |
| Hancock County Technical Center | Other | — | — |
Towns near Ellsworth
- Blue Hill, ME12.7 mi · 2,792 people · home $399,500
- Bucksport, ME14.3 mi · 4,944 people · home $252,300
- Holden, ME15.7 mi · 3,277 people · home $289,400
- Bucksport, ME15.7 mi · 2,832 people · home $214,300
- Orrington, ME15.7 mi · 3,812 people · home $309,000
- Bar Harbor, ME16.7 mi · 5,089 people · home $538,400
- Brewer, ME18.7 mi · 9,672 people · home $245,300
- Hampden, ME21.0 mi · 4,516 people · home $285,900
Ellsworth questions
Is Ellsworth, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ellsworth scores better for retirees than 42% of Maine towns and quieter than 26%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Ellsworth?
The median owner-occupied home in Ellsworth is valued at $242,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,375, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,017 a month.
What is the weather like in Ellsworth?
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 10.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 74.6 inches of snow.
Does Ellsworth get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Ellsworth in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)