Compare towns
Brewer vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
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 | Northbridge | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652 |
16,458Highest |
6,088Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$71,782±$10k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Gardiner 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Gardiner 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Northbridge | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Northbridge High | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.8Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.