Compare towns

Bath vs New Gloucester vs Windham vs Brewer

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the oldest population (median age 45.4).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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.

MeasureBathNew GloucesterWindhamBrewer
People
Population
8,815
5,766Lowest
19,188Highest
9,652
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
ME: +2.6%
+2.4%
ME: +2.6%
+8.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
45.4±3Highest
about the ME average
40.1±5.5Lowest
10% below ME
41.8±1.8
7% below ME
40.1±4.8Lowest
10% below ME
Bath and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±3.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
24.2%±5.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
19.2%±2.7
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±4.3
ME: 18.1%
New Gloucester 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
ME: 22.4%
15.4%±4.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
15.9%±2.1
ME: 22.4%
22.4%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
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%
ME: 36.2%
30.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.2%Highest
ME: 36.2%
35%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±2.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±1.1
ME: 5.8%
7.7%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
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
7% below ME
$108,797±$12kHighest
46% above ME
$107,934±$14k
44% above ME
$66,613±$9kLowest
11% below ME
New Gloucester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$310,900±$30k
5% above ME
$357,100±$29k
20% above ME
$388,900±$22kHighest
31% above ME
$245,300±$21kLowest
17% below ME
Windham and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$116Lowest
8% below ME
$1,150±$249
about the ME average
$1,232±$332Highest
8% above ME
$1,086±$54
5% below ME
Windham and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847
27% above ME
$3,417
13% above ME
$3,938Highest
30% above ME
$3,374Lowest
11% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±15.2
ME: 48.4%
24.7%±12Lowest
ME: 48.4%
32.7%±14.7
ME: 48.4%
55.7%±13.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
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%
ME: 10.7%
4.3%
ME: 10.7%
3.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
12.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.3%
ME: 74.3%
82.9%
ME: 74.3%
84.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
59.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
39 yrs older than ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
1959
18 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the ME average
27 minHighest
9% above ME
26 min
7% above ME
17 minLowest
31% below ME
Work from home
19.3%±6Highest
ME: 15.9%
14.2%±6.5
ME: 15.9%
19%±4.1
ME: 15.9%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Bath and Windham 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 #65 of 133 in ME #95 of 133 in ME #32 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU RSU 15/MSAD 15 RSU 14 Brewer Public Schools
High school in town Morse High School None in town Windham High School Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
—
12.1Lowest
14.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

ME 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.