Compare towns
Rupert vs Brewer vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Rupert | Brewer | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
9,652Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Rupert and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,086±$54Highest 23% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rupert and Brewer 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 | — | Brewer Public Schools | — |
| High school 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 |
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.