Compare towns
Brewer vs Barnard vs Farmington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Farmington has the most affordable homes ($167k 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 | Brewer | Barnard | Farmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
1,211Lowest |
8,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
42.4±6Highest 9% above U.S. |
38.2±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Barnard and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,613±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$97,581±$19kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$54,276±$7kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$166,600±$18kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
$902±$106Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
$1,958Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Farmington and Barnard 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 | — | #64 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | RSU 09 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | None in town | Mt Blue High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Lowest |
— | 14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.