Compare towns
Brewer vs Rockland vs Rye
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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rockland | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
7,035 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
49.3±6 27% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Rockland 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% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 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%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Rockland 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% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,613±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$245,800±$38k 26% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,092±$105 23% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,059 30% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockland 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% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below U.S. |
12 minLowest 53% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.1%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Rockland 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 | #96 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Oceanside High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.