Compare towns
Sandgate 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
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
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 | Sandgate | Brewer | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
9,652Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest 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 | $69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,086±$54Highest 23% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±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 | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate 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.