Compare towns
Rye vs Brewer vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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.
| Measure | Rye | Brewer | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
9,652 |
17,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
37.9±2.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$70,722±$5k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$363,200±$18k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,465±$100 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,477 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 120 in NH | #32 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | 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 Our Story | 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.