Compare towns
Bath vs Brewer vs Ellsworth vs Rye
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).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.
| Measure | Bath | Brewer | Ellsworth | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
9,652Highest |
8,657 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Ellsworth 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% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12k 14% below U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116 26% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Bath 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Brewer Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Brewer High School | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
14.0 |
12.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.