Compare towns
Brewer vs Dunbarton 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).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Gardiner has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Dunbarton | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
3,097Lowest |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Dunbarton 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest 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. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$71,782±$10k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Gardiner 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. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Dunbarton 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardiner and Dunbarton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Dunbarton 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.