Compare towns
Brewer vs Salem 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).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Hampden has the most homeowners (83.6%).
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 | Salem | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652 |
44,795Highest |
5,161Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±7.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$112,228±$22kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$285,900±$33k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,133±$375 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,863 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.2%±18Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Salem 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Salem | — |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Salem High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.