Compare towns
Brewer vs Everett vs Lawrence vs Gardiner
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Gardiner has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,652 |
50,045 |
88,736Highest |
6,088Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% 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. |
42±3.6Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Gardiner 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% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
19.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Everett 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±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$71,782±$10k 11% below U.S. |
| Everett and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$4,880Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,422 10% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| 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% |
44.6%±13.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Highest 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. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardiner and Everett 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 | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Everett | Lawrence | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Everett High | Lawrence High School | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.1 |
13.6 |
11.8Lowest |
| 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.