Compare towns

Brewer vs Ogunquit vs Freeport vs Bangor

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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).

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.

MeasureBrewerOgunquitFreeportBangor
People
Population
9,652
1,379Lowest
8,802
31,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+10.9%
ME: +2.6%
-3.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40.1±4.8Lowest
10% below ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
48.8±4.3
9% above ME
41±1.3
8% below ME
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19.4%±3.5
ME: 18.1%
16.7%±1.7
ME: 18.1%
Brewer and Freeport 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
26.7%±4.9
ME: 22.4%
19.9%±1.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
59.6%
ME: 36.2%
35.1%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.3
ME: 5.8%
10.4%±1.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Bangor and Brewer 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
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$107,326±$19k
44% above ME
$59,942±$7kLowest
20% below ME
Ogunquit and Freeport 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
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$508,400±$76k
71% above ME
$219,600±$10kLowest
26% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54
5% below ME
—
$1,439±$123Highest
26% above ME
$1,055±$43Lowest
7% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,374
11% above ME
$4,473
47% above ME
$5,042Highest
66% above ME
$3,076Lowest
about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.3
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
62%±18.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
51.5%±6.5
ME: 48.4%
Freeport and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
8.5%
ME: 10.7%
17.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
77.6%
ME: 74.3%
47.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
18 yrs older than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
1954Lowest
23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
31% below ME
26 minHighest
7% above ME
24 min
4% below ME
17 minLowest
33% below ME
Work from home
6.9%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
21.2%±5.8
ME: 15.9%
10.1%±2.5
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 133 in ME — #4 of 133 in ME #37 of 133 in ME
School district Brewer Public Schools — RSU 05 Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4
High school in town Brewer High School — Freeport High School Bangor High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0Highest
—
12.2Lowest
13.3
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.