Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Limerick vs Mapleton vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has the oldest population (median age 43).
Limerick has the most people working from home (15.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Limerick | Mapleton | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657 |
3,400 |
1,884Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Highest 4% below ME |
40.4±9.2 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest 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% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest 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 |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Limerick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
$269,400±$29kHighest 9% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
| Limerick and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 7% above ME |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,374Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3 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% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7% ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Limerick and Mapleton 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | — | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | — | 14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.