Compare towns
Brewer vs Brighton vs Gardiner
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).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Brighton | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
1,167Lowest |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,613±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$71,782±$10kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Gardiner and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$221,600±$19k 33% below U.S. |
| Brewer and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,113±$191Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Gardiner and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374Highest 8% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Brighton 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% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardiner and Brighton 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 | — | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Brighton School District | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | None in town | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.