Compare towns

Brewer vs Ellsworth vs Ogunquit vs Rockland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).

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.

MeasureBrewerEllsworthOgunquitRockland
People
Population
9,652Highest
8,657
1,379Lowest
7,035
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
ME: +2.6%
+8.5%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-4.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40.1±4.8Lowest
10% below ME
43±2.4
4% below ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
49.3±6
10% above ME
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
18.4%±3.5
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
15.5%±3.7
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%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
22.1%±3.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
25.4%±4.2
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
39.3%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
35.6%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±2
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
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±$9k
11% below ME
$77,375±$18k
4% above ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$56,533±$6kLowest
24% below ME
Ogunquit and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,300±$21k
17% below ME
$242,300±$22kLowest
18% below ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$245,800±$38k
17% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54
5% below ME
$1,017±$195Lowest
11% below ME
—
$1,092±$105Highest
4% below ME
Rockland and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,374
11% above ME
$3,262Lowest
7% above ME
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$4,059
34% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.3
ME: 48.4%
62.1%±15.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
57.6%±15.3
ME: 48.4%
Ellsworth and Rockland 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%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
10.4%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
66.7%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
62%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
18 yrs older than ME
1980Highest
3 yrs newer than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1948Lowest
29 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
31% below ME
25 min
about the ME average
26 minHighest
7% above ME
12 minLowest
50% below ME
Work from home
6.9%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
7.1%±2.8
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
22.1%±7.5
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 133 in ME #63 of 133 in ME — #96 of 133 in ME
School district Brewer Public Schools Ellsworth Public Schools — Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13
High school in town Brewer High School Ellsworth High School — Oceanside High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0Highest
12.7
—
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.