Compare towns
Eliot vs Dedham vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.
| Measure | Eliot | Dedham | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,656Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 13% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Eliot and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Eliot and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Dedham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
| Eliot and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$3,942 30% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 9% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Eliot and Dedham 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dedham Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.