Compare towns
Brewer vs Hampden vs Limestone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k 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 | Hampden | Limestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
5,161 |
1,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% ME: +2.6% |
+4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
41.1±6.3 8% below ME |
45.3±4.9Highest about the ME average |
| Limestone 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 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% ME: 36.2% |
47.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Brewer 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 11% below ME |
$112,228±$22kHighest 50% above ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$285,900±$33kHighest 4% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% 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 | $1,086±$54 5% below ME |
$1,133±$375Highest about the ME average |
$754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
| Hampden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 11% above ME |
$3,863Highest 27% above ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
25.2%±18Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 31% below ME |
22 minHighest 9% below ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Limestone 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | — | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | — | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.