Compare towns

Derry vs Ogunquit vs Brewer vs Sandown

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Sandown has the highest household income ($135k).

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.

MeasureDerryOgunquitBrewerSandown
People
Population
34,116Highest
1,379Lowest
9,652
6,628
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.3±1.6
4% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
40.8±3.7
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.7%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sandown and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.2%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
14.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Brewer and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,944±$7k
35% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
$135,040±$25kHighest
67% above U.S.
Sandown and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$432,000±$17k
30% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$245,300±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
$483,400±$44k
45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,547±$138
9% above U.S.
—
$1,086±$54Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,893±$721Highest
34% above U.S.
Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,103
160% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,374Lowest
8% above U.S.
$8,801Highest
182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±9
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.7%±13.3
U.S.: 51.1%
64.1%±48.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sandown and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
16%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.4%±13.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Sandown 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 #60 of 120 in NH — #32 of 133 in ME #71 of 120 in NH
School district Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District — Brewer Public Schools Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town Pinkerton Academy — Brewer High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.9Lowest
—
14.0Highest
—
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.