Compare towns

Woolwich vs Brewer vs Bristol

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woolwich has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Bristol has the most people working from home (25%).

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.

MeasureWoolwichBrewerBristol
People
Population
3,158
9,652Highest
2,917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2%
ME: +2.6%
+2.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
55.8±5.5
25% above ME
40.1±4.8Lowest
10% below ME
61±3.2Highest
36% above ME
Bristol and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15%±5.5
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±4.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
13.9%±4.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Brewer and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.9%±8.2
ME: 22.4%
22.4%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
42.8%±8.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
Bristol and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
35%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
52.7%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
7.7%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.4%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,175±$26kHighest
37% above ME
$66,613±$9kLowest
11% below ME
$100,750±$19k
35% above ME
Woolwich and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$254,500±$59k
14% below ME
$245,300±$21kLowest
17% below ME
$406,400±$54kHighest
37% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,086±$54Highest
5% below ME
$1,051±$106Lowest
8% below ME
Brewer and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,433Lowest
20% below ME
$3,374Highest
11% above ME
$2,668
12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
55.7%±13.3
ME: 48.4%
23.4%±19.2Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Woolwich and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
12.5%
ME: 10.7%
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
59.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
5 yrs newer than ME
1959Lowest
18 yrs older than ME
1968
9 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
20% above ME
17 minLowest
31% below ME
18 min
28% below ME
Work from home
11.9%±6.2
ME: 15.9%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
25%±8.3Highest
ME: 15.9%
Bristol and Woolwich 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 #92 of 133 in ME #32 of 133 in ME #16 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Brewer Public Schools Bristol Public Schools
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 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.