Compare towns
Damariscotta 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
Damariscotta has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Bremen has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Damariscotta | Brewer | Bremen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,192 |
9,652Highest |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.6 10% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
52.1±8.2Highest 16% above ME |
| Bremen and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.1%±9.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bremen and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
54.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
$100,000±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,500±$42k 23% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
$425,300±$28kHighest 43% above ME |
| Bremen and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$88Lowest 10% below ME |
$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME |
— |
| Brewer and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Highest 25% above ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
$2,829Lowest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 6% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bremen and Damariscotta 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 | — |
| School district | Great Salt Bay CSD | 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 Our Story | 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.