Compare towns
Bath vs Brewer vs Salem vs Hermon
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 population (median age 45.4).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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 | Salem | Hermon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
9,652 |
44,795Highest |
6,727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±4.7 6% above U.S. |
| Bath and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hermon and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Brewer 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% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Brewer 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. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Hermon and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$333,600±$32k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,406±$202 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Salem 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #54 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Brewer Public Schools | Salem | Hermon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Brewer High School | Salem High | Hermon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
14.0 |
9.8Lowest |
14.6 |
| 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.