What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the most people working from home (18.6%).

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	Rupert	Brewer
People
Population	676Lowest	9,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S.	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brewer and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S.	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Rupert and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,086±$54 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Highest 47% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rupert 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	—	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	—	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	—	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.0
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.