Compare towns

Ellsworth vs Upton 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%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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.

MeasureEllsworthUptonBrewer
People
Population
8,657
8,189Lowest
9,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±2.4
11% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
Upton and Ellsworth 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Upton 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%
20.7%±4.9Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
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±$18k
4% below U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$245,300±$21k
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,017±$195
28% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,086±$54Highest
23% below U.S.
Brewer and Ellsworth 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.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$3,374
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
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 #46 of 282 in MA #32 of 133 in ME
School district Ellsworth Public Schools Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Brewer Public Schools
High school in town Ellsworth High School Blackstone Valley Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
11.2Lowest
14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.