Compare towns
Brewer vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Hampton | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652 |
10,101Highest |
6,088Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Gardiner 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Gardiner 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. |
$97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$71,782±$10k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Hampton 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | — | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.