What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brewer	Ellsworth
People
Population	9,652Highest	8,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME	43±2.4Highest 4% below ME
	Ellsworth and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	18.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Brewer and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%	22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	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 ME: 36.2%	39.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Brewer and Ellsworth 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 11% below ME	$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME
	Ellsworth and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$21kHighest 17% below ME	$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME
	Brewer and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME	$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME
	Brewer and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,374Highest 11% above ME	$3,262Lowest 7% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	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 ME: 10.7%	9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	66.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 31% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Ellsworth and Brewer 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	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Brewer Public Schools	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Brewer High School	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	12.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.