Compare towns

Brewer vs Dummerston vs Middlesex

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 most renters (40.3% rent).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Middlesex 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.

MeasureBrewerDummerstonMiddlesex
People
Population
9,652Highest
2,090
1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Middlesex 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%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Brewer and Middlesex 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.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,300±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,374Lowest
8% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brewer and Dummerston 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%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Dummerston 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 — —
School district Brewer Public Schools Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town Brewer High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0
— —
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.