Compare towns
Bath vs Stoneham vs Brewer vs Ellsworth
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).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Stoneham | Brewer | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
23,355Highest |
9,652 |
8,657Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
| Bath and Ellsworth 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% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 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% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 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. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116 26% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Brewer 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #32 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Stoneham | Brewer Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Stoneham High | Brewer High School | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
14.0 |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.