Compare towns
Brewer vs Holbrook 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).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Holbrook | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652 |
11,380Highest |
6,088Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2Highest 10% above U.S. |
42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Holbrook and Brewer 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% |
19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Holbrook 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. |
$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$71,782±$10k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423 23% below U.S. |
$1,113±$191Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Gardiner and Holbrook 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. |
$6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Holbrook 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardiner and Holbrook 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Holbrook | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Holbrook Middle High School | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
14.3Highest |
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.