What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Auburn	Brewer
People
Population	24,602Highest	9,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.4±2.7Highest 8% below ME	40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME
	Auburn and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1%	20.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Auburn and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±2Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Brewer and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	35%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Brewer and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,647±$5kHighest 11% below ME	$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME
	Auburn and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$282,000±$12kHighest 5% below ME	$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,041±$74Lowest 9% below ME	$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME
	Brewer and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,687Highest 21% above ME	$3,374Lowest 11% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±7.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Brewer and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	12.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	59.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME	1959Highest 18 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 12% below ME	17 minLowest 31% below ME
Work from home	11.5%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9%	6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Auburn and Brewer 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	#110 of 133 in ME	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Auburn Public Schools	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Edward Little High School	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.