What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the most people working from home (6.9%).

Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brewer	Gorham
People
Population	9,652Highest	2,682Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.	53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham and Brewer 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%	20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,613±$9kHighest 17% below U.S.	$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S.
	Brewer and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$21kHighest 26% below U.S.	$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Highest 23% below U.S.	$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.	$4,334Highest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Gorham 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%	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#32 of 133 in ME	#57 of 120 in NH
School district	Brewer Public Schools	Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District
High school in town	Brewer High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	9.0Lowest
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.