Compare towns
Sandgate vs Brewer vs Jay vs Rupert
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).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k 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 | Jay | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
9,652Highest |
471 |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4 43% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Jay 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rupert 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Jay 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. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Brewer High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.