Compare towns

Brewer vs Upton vs Woolwich 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).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Woolwich has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureBrewerUptonWoolwichHampden
People
Population
9,652Highest
8,189
3,158Lowest
7,896
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
55.8±5.5Highest
43% above U.S.
41±2.9
5% above U.S.
Woolwich and Upton 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%
23.2%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
15%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.8%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hampden and Upton 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%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
33.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Woolwich 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%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
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.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$102,175±$26k
27% above U.S.
$111,959±$13k
39% above U.S.
Upton and Hampden 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.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$254,500±$59k
24% below U.S.
$301,300±$38k
9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$54
23% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
—
$1,286±$317Highest
9% 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.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$2,433Lowest
22% below U.S.
$3,694
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.7%±13.3
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Woolwich and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%
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.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.9%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton 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 #46 of 282 in MA #92 of 133 in ME #6 of 133 in ME
School district Brewer Public Schools Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton RSU 01 - LKRSU RSU 22
High school in town Brewer High School Blackstone Valley None in town Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0
11.2Lowest
—
14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.