Compare towns
Bristol vs Brewer vs Bremen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Bremen has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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 | Bristol | Brewer | Bremen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917 |
9,652Highest |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
52.1±8.2 16% above ME |
| Bristol and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.1%±9.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7% ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
54.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
$100,000±$21k 34% above ME |
| Bristol and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
$425,300±$28kHighest 43% above ME |
| Bremen and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME |
— |
| Brewer and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,374Highest 11% above ME |
$2,829 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 9 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 28% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
22 minHighest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Bremen 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 | #16 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.