Compare towns
Brewer vs Newfields vs West Bath
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 most affordable homes ($245k median).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Newfields | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
2,023 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bath and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,516 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and West Bath 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 | — | — |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Newfields School District | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
— | — |
| 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.