Compare towns
Brewer vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Salisbury | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
5,656 |
5,161Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.1±6.3 6% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Hampden 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% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Salisbury 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. |
$92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
$112,228±$22kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Salisbury 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. |
$465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$285,900±$33k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,133±$375 20% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$4,561Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,863 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.2%±18Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Brewer 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | — | — |
| 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.