Compare towns

Bangor vs Sutton vs Brewer

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

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.

MeasureBangorSuttonBrewer
People
Population
31,938Highest
9,452Lowest
9,652
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41±1.3
5% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
Sutton and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brewer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.9%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.4%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.7%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Bangor and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,942±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$66,613±$9k
17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$219,600±$10kLowest
34% below U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$245,300±$21k
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,055±$43Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,190±$401Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,086±$54
23% below U.S.
Sutton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,076Lowest
about the U.S. average
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$3,374
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.5%±6.5
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.7%±13.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
17 min
36% below U.S.
Work from home
10.1%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #37 of 133 in ME #105 of 282 in MA #32 of 133 in ME
School district Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 Sutton Brewer Public Schools
High school in town Bangor High School Sutton High School Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.3
12.6Lowest
14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.