What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Brewer has the most homeowners (59.7%).

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	Fall River	Brewer
People
Population	94,082Highest	9,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average	40.1±4.8Highest 3% above U.S.
	Brewer and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brewer and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S.	$66,613±$9kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Brewer and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,500±$11kHighest 19% above U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,155±$27Highest 18% below U.S.	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Fall River and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,953Highest 27% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fall River 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	#262 of 282 in MA	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	B M C Durfee High	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	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.