Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Brewer vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Otis has the most homeowners (89.5%).
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 | Ellsworth | Brewer | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
9,652Highest |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 4% below ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
$101,250±$27kHighest 35% above ME |
| Otis and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$282,500±$23kHighest 5% below ME |
| Otis and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
| Otis and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 7% above ME |
$3,374Highest 11% above ME |
$2,263Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3 ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Ellsworth and Brewer 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
14.0Highest |
— |
| 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.