What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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	Epping	Brewer
People
Population	7,430Lowest	9,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S.	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Epping and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brewer and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S.	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Highest 122% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 120 in NH	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Epping School District	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Epping High School	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	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.