What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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.

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

Measure	Brewer	Hanson
People
Population	9,652Lowest	10,660Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.	42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S.
	Hanson and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hanson and Brewer 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%	19.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brewer and Hanson 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%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.
	Hanson 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.	$6,402Highest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Brewer 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%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	7.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanson 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	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Brewer Public Schools	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Brewer High School	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Lowest	14.7Highest
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.