Compare towns
Holden vs Union vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Holden | Union | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,352 |
2,663Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.6Highest about the ME average |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Holden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,200±$35kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Holden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,400±$70kHighest about the ME average |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
| Holden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
| Union and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,221Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$3,374Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.8%±30.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Holden 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 | #61 of 133 in ME | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 63/MSAD 63 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.