Compare towns
Hampden vs Winthrop vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Winthrop has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Brewer has the most renters (40.3% rent).
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 | Hampden | Winthrop | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,161Lowest |
6,191 |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±6.3 8% below ME |
43.6±5.3Highest about the ME average |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Winthrop and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Winthrop and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 | $112,228±$22kHighest 50% above ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,900±$33k 4% below ME |
$294,800±$41kHighest about the ME average |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
| Winthrop and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$375Highest about the ME average |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
| Hampden and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,863Highest 27% above ME |
$3,506 15% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.2%±18Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 9% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6 ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Winthrop 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #12 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Winthrop Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Winthrop High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.