States › Maine › Brewer

Is Brewer, ME expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 22 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,33324% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$71,842about $5,987/month · 17% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$245,30026% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 67% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.4 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 16.9 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $53,320 a year. That is $26 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Maine cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Maine. It is number 12 of 34 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Brewer
$1,333
Old Orchard Beach
$1,754
Bath
$1,111
Presque Isle
$1,304
Ellsworth
$1,122
Orono
$2,564
Gorham
$1,866

How much do households earn in Brewer?

Under $25k
17.9%
$25k–50k
23.0%
$50k–100k
31.7%
$100k–150k
14.8%
$150k+
9.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 24.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Brewer

SizeBrewerU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,086$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,269$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,530$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Brewer overall?

Everyday prices in Maine overall are 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.0, U.S. = 100).

Housing
79
Goods (food, clothes…)
97
Utilities
135
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Brewer, so the Maine figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Brewer

🏛️ Property tax$3,374a year · 1.38% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$124a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Brewer

Commute to work16.9 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree35%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home59.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line12.5%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment1.4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Brewer?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $369 a month less.

Renting
$1,333
Owning
$1,702

Owning assumes a typical $245,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $24,530 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Brewer, ME?

Renting in Brewer costs a median of about $1,333 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Maine median is $1,452.

How much do I need to make to live in Brewer?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $53,320 a year, or $26 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Brewer cheap or expensive?

Brewer is rated OK: rent takes 22.3% of the typical household income of $71,842. It ranks 12th cheapest of 34 Maine cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Brewer?

The median homeowner in Brewer pays $3,374 a year in property taxes, about 1.38% of the median home value.

Is Brewer more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Maine are 3% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Brewer?

The median home value in Brewer is $245,300, about 3.4 times the typical yearly household income.

9,652 people live in Brewer. Numbers are typical (middle) values.