Compare towns
Bangor vs Brewer vs Mapleton vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
Brewer has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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.
| Measure | Bangor | Brewer | Mapleton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,938Highest |
9,652 |
1,884Lowest |
5,161 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±1.3 8% below ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
41.1±6.3 8% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±1.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Bangor and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,942±$7kLowest 20% below ME |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$112,228±$22kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$10k 26% below ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$285,900±$33kHighest 4% below ME |
| Hampden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43 7% below ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,133±$375Highest about the ME average |
| Hampden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,076 about the ME average |
$3,374 11% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,863Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25.2%±18 ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
59.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
83.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 33% below ME |
17 min 31% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
22 min 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Mapleton 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 | #37 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | Brewer High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Lowest |
14.0Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.