Compare towns
Brewer vs Everett vs Lawrence 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 homeowners (59.7%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
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 | Everett | Lawrence | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,652Lowest |
50,045 |
88,736Highest |
31,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest 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. |
$85,218±$7kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$59,942±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$219,600±$10kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,055±$43Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$4,880Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,422 10% above U.S. |
$3,076Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Everett and Bangor 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Everett | Lawrence | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Everett High | Lawrence High School | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.6 |
13.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.