What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).

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	Readfield
People
Population	9,652Highest	2,651Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest ME: +2.6%	0%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME	48.1±7.6Highest 7% above ME
	Readfield 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%	18.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Brewer and Readfield 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%	22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Brewer and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Lowest ME: 36.2%	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Brewer and Readfield 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	$86,504±$8kHighest 16% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME	$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME	$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average
	Readfield and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,374Lowest 11% above ME	$3,392Highest 12% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4%	31.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Brewer and Readfield 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%	5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 31% below ME	30 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Readfield 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	#20 of 133 in ME
School district	Brewer Public Schools	RSU 38
High school in town	Brewer High School	Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.