Compare towns

Brewer vs Ogunquit vs Rye vs Farmington

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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rye has the highest household income ($141k).
Farmington has the most affordable homes ($167k 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.

MeasureBrewerOgunquitRyeFarmington
People
Population
9,652Highest
1,379Lowest
5,611
8,157
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±4.8
3% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
38.2±3.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Ogunquit and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
10.6%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Brewer and Rye 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Rye 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%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
38.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,613±$9k
17% below U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$54,276±$7kLowest
33% below U.S.
Rye and Ogunquit 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.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$166,600±$18kLowest
50% below U.S.
Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54
23% below U.S.
—
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$902±$106Lowest
36% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,374
8% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$1,958Lowest
37% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
44.2%±12.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Brewer and Rye 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Rye 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 — #2 of 120 in NH #64 of 133 in ME
School district Brewer Public Schools — Rye School District RSU 09
High school in town Brewer High School — None in town Mt Blue High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0Lowest
— —
14.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.