Compare towns
Brewer vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Thomaston has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
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 | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
2,769Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $66,613±$9kHighest 11% below ME |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
| Brewer and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
$271,700±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
| Thomaston and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
| Thomaston and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Thomaston 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 ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 18 yrs older than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minHighest 31% below ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Brewer and Thomaston 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 | #99 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.