What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bangor has the most people working from home (10.1%).

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	Brewer	Bangor
People
Population	9,652Lowest	31,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME	41±1.3Highest 8% below ME
	Bangor and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	16.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%	19.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	35.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	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	$66,613±$9kHighest 11% below ME	$59,942±$7kLowest 20% below ME
	Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$21kHighest 17% below ME	$219,600±$10kLowest 26% below ME
	Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME	$1,055±$43Lowest 7% below ME
	Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,374Highest 11% above ME	$3,076Lowest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4%	51.5%±6.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest 18 yrs older than ME	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minHighest 31% below ME	17 minLowest 33% below ME
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±2.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bangor 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	#32 of 133 in ME	#37 of 133 in ME
School district	Brewer Public Schools	Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4
High school in town	Brewer High School	Bangor High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	13.3Lowest
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.