City profile · Maine · Census ACS 2023

Brewer, ME

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Brewer - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

9,654
Residents
$51,490
Median income
$218,100
Median home
$1,501
Median rent (state)

Brewer - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Brewer places in the 22nd percentile for household income and the 36th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

22nd
percentile, household income
48th
percentile, home value
60th
percentile, median rent
36th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Brewer, ME

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 9,654 residents in Brewer, a small town within Maine. Brewer households earn a median of $51,490 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 9.1%. Home values in Brewer run a median of $218,100, and the median resident age is 40.6 years. About 30.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 57.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Brewer (No Permits), per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1836.3 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Maine tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 97.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,501 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Maine run around $273, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 55.0 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

9,654 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Maine

Median Household Income

$51,490 /yr

Poverty 9.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Maine average

How does Brewer compare to other US cities?

Brewer measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 22% higher than other cities
Home value 48% pricier than other cities
Median rent 60% pricier than other cities
Safety 36% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Maine alone, Brewer ranks #56 of 73 Maine cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Brewer against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Maine only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Maine-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of Maine's city distribution

Among the 154 Maine cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Brewer ranks #64 - the 58th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Brewer only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#97 of 145
33rd percentile in Maine
Median Gross Rent
#60 of 154
55th percentile in Maine
Median Home Value
#71 of 151
53rd percentile in Maine
Poverty Rate
#64 of 154
58th percentile in Maine
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#67 of 154
56th percentile in Maine

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Maine only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

22ndIncome percentile
36thSafety percentile

22nd percentile nationally for median household income · 36th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Brewer's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Brewer's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 35 Avg. percentile National median
Brewer's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Brewer's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$218,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 52% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Brewer $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Brewer, ME Brewer, ME's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Brewer, ME-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Brewer, ME median $51,490/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Brewer, ME's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Brewer, ME. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
9,654
Median Income
$51,490
Median Home Value
$218,100
Median Age
40.6
Poverty Rate
9.1%
Labor force participation
57.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1836.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
41.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1794.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
9,620 residents9,640 residents9,660 residents9,680 residents9,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 9,670 residents 9,636 residents ▼ -0.4%
Brewer's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.3%
Carpool
9.9%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
1.6%
Work from Home
6.3%
Other
0.7%

Based on 4,538 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Maine - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$273
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Maine state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Maine state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Brewer sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,501/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
55.0 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Maine

Old Orchard Beach
9,150 people
Bath
8,801 people
Presque Isle
8,736 people
Orono
10,699 people
Ellsworth
8,550 people
Old
7,439 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Brewer's 9,654 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hillsborough, NC
9,656 people
Canal Winchester, OH
9,659 people
Picture Rocks, AZ
9,665 people
Sunbury, PA
9,643 people
Flossmoor, IL
9,666 people
Burlington, WA
9,637 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Brewer's $51,490 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bethel, NC
$51,489 median income
Kansas, OH
$51,492 median income
Seymour, MO
$51,497 median income
McNary, LA
$51,500 median income
Meridian Station, MS
$51,500 median income
Dallas, WI
$51,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Brewer, ME Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Brewer, ME - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.9% White 92.1% Black or African American 1.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.4% Some other race 1.8% Two or more races 4.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Brewer compares to nearby Maine cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Brewer (this city) 9,654 $51,490
Old Orchard Beach 9,150 $65,842
Bath 8,801 $65,565
Presque Isle 8,736 $57,396
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ME FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Brewer, ME?

What is the population of Brewer, ME? +

Brewer, ME has a population of 9,654 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Brewer, ME? +

Median annual household income in Brewer runs $51,490, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Brewer? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Brewer; the closest available measure is the Maine state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Maine vary by metro area.

Is Brewer, ME safe? +

Brewer has a total crime rate of 1836.3 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Brewer, ME? +

Brewer's median home value sits at $218,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.