Compare towns

Brewer vs Walden vs Farmington

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 kids (20.9% under 18).
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
Farmington has the most affordable homes ($167k 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.

MeasureBrewerWaldenFarmington
People
Population
9,652Highest
1,037Lowest
8,157
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±4.8
3% above U.S.
48.8±3.2Highest
25% above U.S.
38.2±3.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
10.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brewer and Walden 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%
20.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Brewer and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,613±$9k
17% below U.S.
$88,000±$15kHighest
9% above U.S.
$54,276±$7kLowest
33% below U.S.
Walden and Brewer 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.
$238,900±$23k
28% below U.S.
$166,600±$18kLowest
50% below U.S.
Brewer and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54Highest
23% below U.S.
$900±$136Lowest
36% below U.S.
$902±$106
36% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,374
8% above U.S.
$3,944Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,958Lowest
37% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.3
U.S.: 51.1%
56.3%±86.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.2%±12.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Walden and Brewer 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%
9.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.4%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Walden and Farmington 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 — #64 of 133 in ME
School district Brewer Public Schools Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 RSU 09
High school in town Brewer High School None in town Mt Blue High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0Lowest
—
14.2Highest
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.