Compare towns
Brewer vs Epping vs Ossipee vs Gardiner
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.
| Measure | Brewer | Epping | Ossipee | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
7,430 |
4,521Lowest |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Ossipee 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$71,782±$10k 11% below U.S. |
| Epping and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
| Epping and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Gardiner 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Epping School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Epping High School | None in town | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.