Compare towns
Brewer vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Strafford | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
1,372Lowest |
5,161 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.1±6.3 6% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±7.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Strafford 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% |
53.3%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%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$112,228±$22kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$285,900±$33k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,133±$375Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,863 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.2%±18Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Strafford 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% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest 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 | Strafford 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.