Compare towns
Hampden vs Ogunquit vs Brewer vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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.
| Measure | Hampden | Ogunquit | Brewer | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,896 |
1,379Lowest |
9,652Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 8% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
40.1±4.8 10% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest 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 | $111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38k about the ME average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 13% above ME |
— | $1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694 22% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 133 in ME | — | #32 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | — | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | — | Brewer High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.0 |
13.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.