Compare towns
Brewer vs Dummerston vs Newfane 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).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Dummerston | Newfane | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
2,090 |
1,456Lowest |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Brewer 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8%Lowest 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% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Gardiner 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±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
$71,782±$10k 11% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Gardiner 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. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Newfane 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 |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Newfane 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Newfane 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane 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 | — | — | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | None in town | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.