Compare towns

Brewer vs Dover vs Ogunquit 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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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.

MeasureBrewerDoverOgunquitEllsworth
People
Population
9,652
33,364Highest
1,379Lowest
8,657
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±4.8
3% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
43±2.4
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Brewer and Ellsworth 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%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Brewer and Dover 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.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$77,375±$18k
4% below U.S.
Ogunquit and Dover 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.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54
23% below U.S.
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
—
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,374
8% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.3
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Brewer 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%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
66.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH — #63 of 133 in ME
School district Brewer Public Schools Dover School District — Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town Brewer High School Dover Senior High School — Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0Highest
12.7Lowest
—
12.7Lowest
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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.