What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bucksport 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	Bucksport
People
Population	9,652Highest	5,016Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME	42.7±12.2Highest 5% below ME
	Bucksport 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%	17.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Brewer and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.6%±7.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Bucksport and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Highest ME: 36.2%	27.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	2.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,613±$9kHighest 11% below ME	$64,720±$21kLowest 13% below ME
	Brewer and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME	$252,300±$32kHighest 15% below ME
	Bucksport and Brewer 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	$882±$92Lowest 23% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,374Highest 11% above ME	$2,021Lowest 33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4%	48.9%±17Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Brewer and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	74.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME	1975Highest 2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 31% below ME	28 minHighest 15% above ME
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bucksport 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	#68 of 133 in ME
School district	Brewer Public Schools	RSU 25
High school in town	Brewer High School	Bucksport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	13.1Lowest
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.