Compare towns
Brewer vs Dedham vs Stoneham vs Ellsworth
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).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Dedham | Stoneham | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,652 |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
8,657Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Ellsworth 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% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Stoneham 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% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Ellsworth 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Dedham | Stoneham | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Dedham High | Stoneham High | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.