What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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	Bristol	Brewer
People
Population	3,273Lowest	9,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±5.7Highest 10% above U.S.	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Bristol and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bristol and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$10kHighest about the U.S. average	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Bristol and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$63kHighest 22% below U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
	Bristol and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S.	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,162Highest 33% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bristol 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	#79 of 120 in NH	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Newfound Area School District	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	14.0Highest
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.