What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Oakland has the most homeowners (77.6%).

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	Oakland
People
Population	9,652Highest	6,309Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME	40.2±6.9Highest 10% below ME
	Oakland 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 ME: 18.1%	23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Oakland 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 ME: 22.4%	18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Brewer and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Brewer and Oakland 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 11% below ME	$77,813±$16kHighest 4% above ME
	Oakland and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$21kHighest 17% below ME	$236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME
	Brewer and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME	$939±$74Lowest 18% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,374Highest 11% above ME	$2,439Lowest 20% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Oakland 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 ME: 10.7%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	77.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 31% below ME	27 minHighest 8% above ME
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Oakland 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	#23 of 133 in ME
School district	Brewer Public Schools	RSU 18
High school in town	Brewer High School	Messalonskee High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Lowest	14.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.