Compare towns
Brewer vs Strafford 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 the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Strafford | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652 |
4,306Lowest |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Bangor 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% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest 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. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$59,942±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$219,600±$10kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,055±$43Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,076Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Strafford 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.