Compare towns
South Eliot vs West Bath vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
West Bath has the most people working from home (17.1%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | South Eliot | West Bath | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203 |
1,863Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
54.2±5.6 21% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| South Eliot and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| South Eliot and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.9% ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| West Bath and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52kHighest 60% above ME |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
| South Eliot and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,112±$327 about the ME average |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442Highest 46% above ME |
$3,516 16% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3 ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 16% below ME |
21 minHighest 16% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| West Bath and South Eliot 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 | — | West Bath Public Schools | 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 |
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.