Compare towns
Bremen vs Brewer vs Mapleton vs Islesboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bremen has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Brewer has the most renters (40.3% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 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 | Bremen | Brewer | Mapleton | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917 |
9,652Highest |
1,884 |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±8.2 16% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
57±8.4Highest 27% above ME |
| Islesboro and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.1%±9.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Islesboro and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,000±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$88,438±$44k 18% above ME |
| Bremen and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$28kHighest 43% above ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$288,800±$140k about the ME average |
| Bremen and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$938±$252 18% below ME |
| Brewer and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,829 7% below ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,300Highest 42% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 13% below ME |
17 min 31% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
| Work from home | 22.7%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
20.3%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Bremen and Islesboro 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | Brewer High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.