What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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	Holbrook	Brewer
People
Population	11,380Highest	9,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.2Highest 10% above U.S.	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Holbrook and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Holbrook and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brewer and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S.	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,094±$423Highest 23% below U.S.	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Holbrook and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,105Highest 96% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Holbrook 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	#234 of 282 in MA	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Holbrook	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Holbrook Middle High School	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	14.0Lowest
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.