What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).

Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

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	Bolton	Brewer
People
Population	5,737Lowest	9,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.7Highest 6% above U.S.	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Bolton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bolton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brewer and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S.	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$1kHighest 12% above U.S.	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Bolton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#28 of 282 in MA	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Nashoba	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Nashoba Regional	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	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.