Compare towns
Steep Falls vs Brewer vs Parsonsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steep Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Parsonsfield has the most expensive homes ($272k 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 | Steep Falls | Brewer | Parsonsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,861 |
9,652Highest |
1,715Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
-5.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
44.3±5.9Highest about the ME average |
| Parsonsfield and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±9.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Parsonsfield and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,280±$33kHighest 7% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
$72,045±$18k 4% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,400±$31kLowest 18% below ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME |
| Parsonsfield and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
$1,185±$312 4% above ME |
| Steep Falls and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,273 8% above ME |
$3,374Highest 11% above ME |
$2,350Lowest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±36.1 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Parsonsfield and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.2% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 7 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
48 minHighest 97% above ME |
| Work from home | 4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Brewer and Parsonsfield 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 |
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.