What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the most homeowners (59.7%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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	Lawrence
People
Population	9,652Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±4.8Highest 3% above U.S.	32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lawrence 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%	10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer and Lawrence 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.	$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S.
	Brewer and Lawrence 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.	$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.	$3,422Highest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lawrence and Brewer 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%	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brewer and Lawrence 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	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Brewer Public Schools	Lawrence
High school in town	Brewer High School	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	13.6Lowest
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.