Compare towns
Bath vs Orland vs Dedham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
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.
| Measure | Bath | Orland | Dedham | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
1,915 |
1,656Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 about the ME average |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Orland and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Orland 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% ME: 36.2% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Orland 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 |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 5% above ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
| Dedham and Bath 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 |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
| Dedham and Orland 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 |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest 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% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the ME average |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bath and Orland 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 | — | Dedham Public Schools | 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 Our Story | 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.