Compare towns
Bath vs Lee vs Ellsworth 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 most people working from home (19.3%).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Lee | Ellsworth | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
5,719Lowest |
8,657 |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest 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. |
$83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Lee and Ellsworth 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. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
| Lee and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116 26% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$3,980Highest 28% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Lee 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest 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. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
18 min 31% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bath and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #63 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Lee | Ellsworth Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Lee Middle/High School | Ellsworth High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
12.7 |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 5 photos → | 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.