Compare towns
Brewer vs Lawrence 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Hampden has the most people working from home (16.1%).
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 | Lawrence | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652 |
88,736Highest |
5,161Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
41.1±6.3Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±7.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Hampden 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% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Lawrence 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. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$112,228±$22kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$285,900±$33k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,133±$375 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,422 10% above U.S. |
$3,863Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.2%±18Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 133 in ME | #278 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Lawrence | — |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Lawrence High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
13.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.