Compare towns
Brewer vs Stark vs Gardiner
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).
Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).
Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Stark | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
419Lowest |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Gardiner 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% |
27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Gardiner 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. |
$71,750±$23k 11% below U.S. |
$71,782±$10kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Gardiner and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$221,600±$19k 33% below U.S. |
| Brewer and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$191Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Gardiner and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374Highest 8% above U.S. |
$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,742 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stark 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% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 133 in ME | — | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Stark School District | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | None in town | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.