Compare towns
Brewer vs Thornton 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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Hampden has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Thornton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,652Highest |
2,799Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest 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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Thornton 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% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Hampden 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. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Thornton 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. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Thornton 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. |
$5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Thornton School District | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.