Compare towns

Rockland vs Brewer

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the most people working from home (22.1%).
Brewer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).

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.

MeasureRocklandBrewer
People
Population
7,035Lowest
9,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.3±6Highest
10% above ME
40.1±4.8Lowest
10% below ME
Rockland and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±3.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±4.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
Brewer and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.4%±4.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.4%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Rockland and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.6%Highest
ME: 36.2%
35%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
7.7%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,533±$6kLowest
24% below ME
$66,613±$9kHighest
11% below ME
Brewer and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,800±$38kHighest
17% below ME
$245,300±$21kLowest
17% below ME
Rockland and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,092±$105Highest
4% below ME
$1,086±$54Lowest
5% below ME
Rockland and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,059Highest
34% above ME
$3,374Lowest
11% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.6%±15.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
55.7%±13.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Rockland and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
12.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62%Highest
ME: 74.3%
59.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1948Lowest
29 yrs older than ME
1959Highest
18 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
12 minLowest
50% below ME
17 minHighest
31% below ME
Work from home
22.1%±7.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #96 of 133 in ME #32 of 133 in ME
School district Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 Brewer Public Schools
High school in town Oceanside High School Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.