Compare towns

Windham vs Brewer vs Worcester vs Ripton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).

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.

MeasureWindhamBrewerWorcesterRipton
People
Population
594
9,652Highest
831
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brewer and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.7%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$245,300±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
Ripton and Windham 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.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
—
Brewer and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,374Lowest
8% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
55.7%±13.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Brewer and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Windham 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — Brewer High School None in town 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.