Compare towns
Bath vs Monroe vs Brewer vs Kittery
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).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Kittery has the most expensive homes ($469k 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 | Monroe | Brewer | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
786Lowest |
9,652 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Kittery 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% |
20.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Kittery 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% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 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. |
$88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Monroe 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. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
$4,518Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Monroe School District | Brewer Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | None in town | Brewer High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.0 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.