Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Fall River vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Fall River has the most expensive homes ($396k median).
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 | Ellsworth | Fall River | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Lowest |
94,082Highest |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
| Ellsworth and Brewer 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% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Fall River 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% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest 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±$18kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$66,613±$9k 17% below U.S. |
| Ellsworth and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$395,500±$11kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,155±$27Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Fall River and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,953Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | #262 of 282 in MA | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | B M C Durfee High | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
11.3Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.