What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bremen has the most kids (18.6% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bremen	Islesboro
People
Population	917Highest	636Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.1±8.2Lowest 16% 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%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%	11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bremen and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.1%±9.9Lowest 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%	47.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Bremen and Islesboro 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	$88,438±$44kLowest 18% above ME
	Bremen and Islesboro 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	$288,800±$140kLowest 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	—	$938±$252 18% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,829Lowest 7% below ME	$4,300Highest 42% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	30.8%±85.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Islesboro and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	15.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	91.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 13% below ME	8 minLowest 69% below ME
Work from home	22.7%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9%	20.3%±8.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bremen and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.