What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

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	Salem	Brewer
People
Population	44,795Highest	9,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average	40.1±4.8Highest 3% above U.S.
	Brewer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brewer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brewer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S.	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Salem	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Salem High	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	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.