Compare towns

Brewer vs Ogunquit vs Strafford

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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).

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.

MeasureBrewerOgunquitStrafford
People
Population
9,652Highest
1,379Lowest
4,306
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
46.3±2.1
19% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Brewer and Strafford 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%
19.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Brewer and Strafford 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.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$122,105±$22kHighest
51% above U.S.
Strafford 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±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$427,900±$29k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54Lowest
23% below U.S.
—
$1,635±$246Highest
16% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,374Lowest
8% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$6,086Highest
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford and Brewer 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 133 in ME — #73 of 120 in NH
School district Brewer Public Schools — Strafford School District
High school in town Brewer High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0
— —
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.