Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Dummer vs Brewer vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummer has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | Ellsworth | Dummer | Brewer | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657 |
299Lowest |
9,652Highest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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% below U.S. |
$91,250±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22k 27% below U.S. |
$242,200±$51kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$356,400±$33kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$2,898Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
$3,942Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Ellsworth 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 | Dedham 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.