Compare towns
Newburgh vs Mapleton vs Brewer vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newburgh has the most homeowners (81.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Newburgh | Mapleton | Brewer | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,475Lowest |
1,884 |
9,652Highest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
| Franklin and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,750±$10k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
| Mapleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
| Franklin and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$219 17% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME |
$888±$306 22% below ME |
| Brewer and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,748 9% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,374Highest 11% above ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Franklin 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 | — | — | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Brewer Public Schools | — |
| High school 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 | 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.