What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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	Randolph
People
Population	9,652Highest	2,007Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.	50.5±7.7Highest 30% above U.S.
	Randolph 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 U.S.: 22%	11%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Randolph 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	7.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer and Randolph 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 17% below U.S.	$75,069±$11kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Randolph 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 26% below U.S.	$235,400±$25kLowest 29% below U.S.
	Brewer and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,095±$198Highest 23% below U.S.
	Randolph 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.	$4,507Highest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54.3%±20.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Randolph 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%	14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	18 minHighest 32% below U.S.
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#32 of 133 in ME	#55 of 70 in VT
School district	Brewer Public Schools	—
High school in town	Brewer High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0	—
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.