Compare towns
Bath vs Sullivan vs Surry 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%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Sullivan | Surry | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
687Lowest |
1,052 |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Bath 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% |
16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Surry 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% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Surry 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. |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Surry and Sullivan 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. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$331,400±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
| Surry 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 26% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest 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% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bath and Surry 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 | — | — | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | — | — | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | — | 14.0Lowest |
| 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.