Compare towns
Dresden vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dresden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Dresden | Brewer |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,645Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Dresden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Dresden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
$245,300±$21kHighest 17% below ME |
| Brewer and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
| Dresden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
$3,374Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Brewer and Dresden 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 | RSU 02 | 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 |
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.