Compare towns
Brewer vs Dover vs Bangor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Bangor has the most affordable homes ($220k 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.
| Measure | Brewer | Dover | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Lowest |
33,364Highest |
31,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41±1.3Highest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Dover 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$59,942±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$219,600±$10kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,055±$43Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,076Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Dover School District | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Dover Senior High School | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.7Lowest |
13.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.