Compare towns
Brewer vs Ogunquit vs Salem vs Bangor
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 kids (20.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the youngest population (median age 39.3).
Bangor has the most affordable homes ($220k 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 | Ogunquit | Salem | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,652 |
1,379Lowest |
44,795Highest |
31,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Bangor 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bangor and Salem 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$59,942±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Salem 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±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$219,600±$10kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
— | $1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,055±$43Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,076Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Salem 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 133 in ME | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | — | Salem | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | — | Salem High | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
13.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.