Compare towns
Brewer vs Mapleton vs North Hampton 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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Mapleton | North Hampton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
1,884Lowest |
4,543 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Hampden 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Hampden 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and North 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton and Hampden 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | North Hampton School District | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | None in town | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Lowest |
— | — | 14.8Highest |
| 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.