Compare towns
Bremen vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Dedham | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 917 |
1,656Highest |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±8.2 16% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above 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% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Bremen 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% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
49.5% ME: 36.2% |
47.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Dedham and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,000±$21k 34% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$88,438±$44kLowest 18% above ME |
| Dedham and Bremen 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 |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$288,800±$140kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$938±$252Lowest 18% below ME |
| Dedham and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,829Lowest 7% below ME |
$3,942 30% above ME |
$4,300Highest 42% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Islesboro and Dedham 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 13% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
| Work from home | 22.7%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | — | Dedham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.