What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lewiston has the most people working from home (12.3%).

Brewer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).

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	Lewiston	Brewer
People
Population	38,324Highest	9,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME	40.1±4.8Highest 10% below ME
	Brewer and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%
	Brewer and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Brewer and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	35%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±1Highest ME: 5.8%	7.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Lewiston and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME	$66,613±$9kHighest 11% below ME
	Brewer and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,100±$8kLowest 21% below ME	$245,300±$21kHighest 17% below ME
	Brewer and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$986±$44Lowest 13% below ME	$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,899Lowest 5% below ME	$3,374Highest 11% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Brewer and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20%Highest ME: 10.7%	12.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	59.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 20 yrs older than ME	1959Highest 18 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 15% below ME	17 minLowest 31% below ME
Work from home	12.3%±2.4Highest ME: 15.9%	6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#132 of 133 in ME	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Lewiston High School	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	14.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.