What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Unity
People
Population	9,652Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.1±4.8Highest 10% below ME	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME
Kids under 18	20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Brewer and Unity 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%	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,613±$9kHighest 11% below ME	$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME
	Brewer and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$21kHighest 17% below ME	$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME
	Brewer and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME	$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,374Highest 11% above ME	$2,510Lowest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4%	44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Brewer and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 31% below ME	21 minHighest 14% below ME
Work from home	6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Unity 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	—
School district	Brewer Public Schools	RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center
High school in town	Brewer High School	Ecology Learning Ctr
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	12.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.