Real Estate Investing in Ellsworth, Maine (04605)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Hancock County • Population: 14,695 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 04605 (Ellsworth, ME)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 29.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Ellsworth, ME (04605)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $362,955
Avg Monthly Rent $1,895
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,131
% Renters 25.9%

Market Analysis: 04605 Ellsworth

ZIP 04605 in Ellsworth, ME carries a sturdy set of headwinds. Home values near $363K and rents of $1,895/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The 04605 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Statewide comparisons place 04605 among ME's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

On the rental side, 14,695 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategically, 04605 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Ellsworth:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,895/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 04605

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$106,143/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $230,064 $1,190 3.7% +7.6% $230,064
2BR $306,201 $1,450 3.4% +9.1% $153,101
3BR $366,869 $1,980 3.9% +9.2% $122,290
4BR $424,574 $1,980 3.4% +9.7% $106,143
5BR $531,724 +9.1% $106,345

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$384K$332K$279K$227K$174K$122KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 04605 Compare?

Metric 04605 Ellsworth Maine
Home Value $362,955 $362,955 $401,109
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% 8.6%
Avg Rent $1,895 $1,895 -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 04605? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 04605 (Ellsworth, ME). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 04605 (Ellsworth, ME)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $362,955
Monthly Rent $1,895
Price-to-Rent 16.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 10.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
29.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 04605

Population: 14,695

💰 Median Household Income
$65,131
This area
$65,131
State
$66,371
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.9%
This area
25.9%
State
17.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-23.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
36.5%
This area
36.5%
State
3.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.2 years
This area
44.2 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
29.3%
This area
29.3%
State
32.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.2%
Other/Mixed 4.5%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
Asian 1.4%
Black/African American 0.9%
👶 Under 18
18.8%
This area
18.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.0%
This area
7.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 04605

A Avg School Grade
6 Schools
10.1:1 Avg Class Size
$22,481 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School

📚 K – 08 School
👥
744 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,583 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lamoine Consolidated School

📚 K – 08 School
👥
126 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$23,793 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Trenton Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
138 Students
👨‍🏫
8.0:1 Class Size
💰
$31,936 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Ellsworth High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
536 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,583 Per Student
A Very Good

Beech Hill School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
77 Students
👨‍🏫
9.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,410 Per Student
B Good

Hancock County Technical Center

📚 Grade N Elementary Limited Data
💰
$19,583 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average home sale price in Ellsworth, ME?

Typical homes in Ellsworth, ME go for around $363K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

How does Ellsworth, ME rate as a rental market?

Ellsworth, ME scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $363K and rents near $1,895/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How strong is the working-renter base in Ellsworth, ME?

Tenant demand in Ellsworth, ME is solid. The local workforce $1,895/mo rents across most rental classes.

What investment strategy works best in Ellsworth, ME?

In Ellsworth, ME the impressive play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $363K prices and $1,895/mo rents suits that approach.

Is Ellsworth, ME good for landlords?

Ellsworth, ME falls under ME landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 04605 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 04605 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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