What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).

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	Lisbon	Brewer
People
Population	9,750Highest	9,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME	40.1±4.8Highest 10% below ME
	Brewer and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	20.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Lisbon and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Brewer and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	35%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Brewer and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,819±$9kHighest 4% above ME	$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME
	Lisbon and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$26kHighest 13% below ME	$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME
	Lisbon and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME	$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME
	Brewer and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,324Lowest 9% above ME	$3,374Highest 11% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±14.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Brewer and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	12.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 4 yrs older than ME	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 17% above ME	17 minLowest 31% below ME
Work from home	18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9%	6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lisbon 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	#60 of 133 in ME	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Lisbon Public Schools	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Lisbon High School	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	14.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.