Compare towns

Bath vs Calais 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 population (median age 45.4).
Calais has the highest household income ($101k).
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.

MeasureBathCalaisBrewer
People
Population
8,815
1,713Lowest
9,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±3Highest
17% above U.S.
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
Bath and Calais 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%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Calais 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%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±3.6
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%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
7.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brewer and Calais 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.
$100,625±$27kHighest
25% above U.S.
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
Calais and Bath 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.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$245,300±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$116Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,086±$54
23% below U.S.
Calais and Brewer 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.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$3,374Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±15.2
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.7%±13.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brewer and Bath 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%
8.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais 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
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Brewer Public Schools
High school in town Morse High School None in town Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
—
14.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.