What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).

Lisbon has the most people working from home (10.3%).

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	Lisbon
People
Population	9,652Highest	1,583Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.	46.4±5.7Highest 19% above U.S.
	Lisbon 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%	21.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lisbon 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%	20.8%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brewer and Lisbon 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%	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,613±$9kHighest 17% below U.S.	$65,500±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Brewer and Lisbon 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.	$198,000±$19kLowest 40% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,344±$303Highest 5% below U.S.
	Lisbon 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.	$4,691Highest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.9%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Lisbon 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%	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	74.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	22 minHighest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lisbon 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	—
School district	Brewer Public Schools	Lisbon Regional School District
High school in town	Brewer High School	Lisbon Regional School (High)
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	6.4Lowest
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.