What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

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	Brookline	Brewer
People
Population	5,736Lowest	9,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.5Highest 6% above U.S.	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Brookline and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#23 of 120 in NH	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Brookline School District	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.0
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.