Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Windham 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 the oldest population (median age 43).
Windham has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | Windham | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Lowest |
16,038Highest |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Ellsworth and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Windham School District | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Windham High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
12.8 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.