Compare towns
Brewer vs Plainfield 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 most renters (40.3% rent).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Hampden has the oldest population (median age 41.1).
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 | Plainfield | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
2,522Lowest |
5,161 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±7.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$112,228±$22k 39% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$285,900±$33k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,133±$375 20% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,863 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.2%±18Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Plainfield 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
— | — |
| 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.