What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Presque Isle has the most affordable homes ($147k 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	Presque Isle
People
Population	9,652Highest	8,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME	44.1±3.5Highest about the ME average
	Presque Isle and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	18%±3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Brewer and Presque Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.6%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Presque Isle and Brewer 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%	26.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Brewer and Presque Isle 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 11% below ME	$55,768±$6kLowest 25% below ME
	Brewer and Presque Isle 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	$147,200±$11kLowest 50% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME	$904±$54Lowest 21% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,374Highest 11% above ME	$2,401Lowest 21% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4%	47.3%±9.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Brewer and Presque Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	15.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	57.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME	1971Highest 6 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minHighest 31% below ME	14 minLowest 41% below ME
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Brewer and Presque Isle 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	#62 of 133 in ME
School district	Brewer Public Schools	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town	Brewer High School	Presque Isle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	13.7Lowest
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.