Compare towns
Union vs Brewer vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k 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 | Union | Brewer | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
9,652Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% ME: 36.2% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Union and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
| Union and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
$1,036±$322Lowest 9% below ME |
| Union and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 8% above ME |
$3,374Highest 11% above ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Washington 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.