Compare towns
Rome vs Newcastle vs Brooklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Newcastle has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Brooklin has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
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 | Rome | Newcastle | Brooklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,215 |
1,913Highest |
869Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+0.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2Lowest 8% above ME |
49.4±7Highest 10% above ME |
49.2±3.7 10% above ME |
| Newcastle and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Rome and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±9.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25k 4% above ME |
$89,868±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$68,750±$8kLowest 8% below ME |
| Newcastle and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,300±$36kLowest 11% above ME |
$398,000±$41kHighest 34% above ME |
$339,400±$90k 14% above ME |
| Newcastle and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56Lowest about the ME average |
$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
$1,236±$137 9% above ME |
| Newcastle and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829 40% below ME |
$4,256Highest 40% above ME |
$1,792Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.5%±25 ME: 48.4% |
| Rome and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
26 min 4% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Newcastle and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Brooklin Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.