What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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	Lawrence	Brewer
People
Population	88,736Highest	9,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S.	40.1±4.8Highest 3% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lawrence and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S.	$66,613±$9kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Brewer and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Highest 10% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lawrence and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brewer and Lawrence 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	#278 of 282 in MA	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Lawrence	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Lawrence High School	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Lowest	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.