Compare towns

Brewer vs Newfields vs Bangor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).

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.

MeasureBrewerNewfieldsBangor
People
Population
9,652
2,023Lowest
31,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Highest
13% above U.S.
41±1.3
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brewer and Newfields 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%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Brewer and Bangor 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%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
10.4%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bangor and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,613±$9k
17% below U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$59,942±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,300±$21k
26% below U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$219,600±$10kLowest
34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54
23% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,055±$43Lowest
25% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,374
8% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,076Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.5%±6.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
47.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
36% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 133 in ME — #37 of 133 in ME
School district Brewer Public Schools Newfields School District Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4
High school in town Brewer High School None in town Bangor High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0Highest
—
13.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.