Compare towns

Brewer 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).
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.

MeasureBrewerUptonBangor
People
Population
9,652
8,189Lowest
31,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
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.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
41±1.3
5% above U.S.
Upton and Bangor 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%
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%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±1.9Lowest
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%
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%
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.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$59,942±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,300±$21k
26% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$219,600±$10kLowest
34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54Highest
23% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,055±$43
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
$3,374
8% 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%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
51.5%±6.5Lowest
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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
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.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
36% below 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%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #32 of 133 in ME #46 of 282 in MA #37 of 133 in ME
School district Brewer Public Schools Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4
High school in town Brewer High School Blackstone Valley Bangor High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0Highest
11.2Lowest
13.3
On TownTapestry
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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.