Compare towns
Brewer vs Stark 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Stark has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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.
| Measure | Brewer | Stark | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652 |
419Lowest |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7Lowest 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. |
$71,750±$23kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$59,942±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Stark 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. |
$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
| Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Highest 23% below U.S. |
— | $1,055±$43Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374Highest 8% above U.S. |
$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,076 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stark and Brewer 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% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stark and Bangor 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 | — | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Stark 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 History | 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.