Compare towns
Bath vs Berlin vs Brunswick vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Brunswick has the youngest population (median age 40).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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.
| Measure | Bath | Berlin | Brunswick | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
3,378Lowest |
22,336Highest |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12k 14% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6k 7% below U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15k 13% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,469±$99 4% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,756 52% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 133 in ME | #61 of 282 in MA | #30 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Berlin-Boylston | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | None in town | Brunswick High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.