Compare towns
Brewer vs Salem vs Old Town
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).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Old Town has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Salem | Old Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652 |
44,795Highest |
7,470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Highest 3% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
37±1.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Brewer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Old Town and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Salem 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% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Old Town 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. |
$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$51,585±$10kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$208,100±$26kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$989±$100Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,153Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±15Lowest 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% |
12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Old Town 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #56 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Salem | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Salem High | Old Town High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.