What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).

Brewer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).

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	Bethlehem	Brewer
People
Population	2,537Lowest	9,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brewer and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S.	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Bethlehem and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kHighest 13% below U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Bethlehem and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 23% below U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 120 in NH	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.