What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Franklin
People
Population	9,652Highest	8,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.	42.7±2Highest 10% above U.S.
	Franklin 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%	17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brewer and Franklin 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%	21.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brewer and Franklin 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%	19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.	$71,648±$4kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Franklin and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.	$262,200±$22kHighest 21% below U.S.
	Franklin and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S.
	Franklin and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.	$4,886Highest 57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Franklin 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%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	64.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959 21 yrs older than U.S.	1959 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Franklin 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	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Brewer Public Schools	Franklin School District
High school in town	Brewer High School	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Lowest	16.2Highest
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.