What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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	Sturbridge
People
Population	9,652Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sturbridge 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%	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brewer and Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brewer and Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer and Sturbridge 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.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sturbridge 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.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#32 of 133 in ME	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Brewer Public Schools	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Brewer High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	7.7Lowest
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.