Compare towns
Brewer vs Lawrence vs Ellsworth
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).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Ellsworth has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Lawrence | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652 |
88,736Highest |
8,657Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Lawrence 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 17% below U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$77,375±$18kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| 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±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$3,422Highest 10% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Lawrence | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Lawrence High School | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
13.6 |
12.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.