Compare towns
Brewer vs Sheffield 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).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Sheffield | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
573Lowest |
5,161 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
42±8Highest 8% above U.S. |
41.1±6.3 6% above U.S. |
| Sheffield 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% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Sheffield 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% |
27.1%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% |
5.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Sheffield 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. |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$112,228±$22kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$285,900±$33kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$967±$79Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,133±$375Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$3,863Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.2%±18Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield 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% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 133 in ME | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| 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.