Compare towns
Brewer vs Bennington vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewer has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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.
| Measure | Brewer | Bennington | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652 |
15,249Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Bennington and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,613±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$301,300±$38kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,513Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Bennington 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Lowest |
14.7 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.