What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

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	Clinton
People
Population	9,652Lowest	15,563Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±4.8Highest 3% above U.S.	38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average
	Brewer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brewer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.	$89,781±$10kHighest 11% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.	$387,300±$19kHighest 16% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,402±$76Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.	$4,654Highest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#32 of 133 in ME	#246 of 282 in MA
School district	Brewer Public Schools	Clinton
High school in town	Brewer High School	Clinton Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	12.8Lowest
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.