Compare towns

Brewer vs Sutton vs Upton 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 youngest population (median age 40.1).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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.

MeasureBrewerSuttonUptonBangor
People
Population
9,652
9,452
8,189Lowest
31,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
41±1.3
5% above U.S.
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Brewer 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%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Brewer and Upton 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%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
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.
$147,125±$25k
82% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$59,942±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,300±$21k
26% below U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$219,600±$10kLowest
34% below U.S.
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54
23% below U.S.
$1,190±$401Highest
16% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,055±$43
25% below U.S.
Sutton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,374
8% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$3,076Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
51.5%±6.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Brewer and Upton 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%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
47.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
36% below U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Sutton 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 #105 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #37 of 133 in ME
School district Brewer Public Schools Sutton Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4
High school in town Brewer High School Sutton High School Blackstone Valley Bangor High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0Highest
12.6
11.2Lowest
13.3
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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.