Compare towns
Hampden vs South Berwick vs Newburgh 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 (+6.2%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Newburgh has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | South Berwick | Newburgh | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,896 |
7,670 |
1,475Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 8% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
45.8±5.7Highest about the ME average |
40.1±4.8 10% below ME |
| Newburgh and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 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 | $111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Hampden and South Berwick 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 |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
$244,600±$20kLowest 18% below ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$950±$219Lowest 17% below ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694 22% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$2,748Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
81.2% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | Marshwood High School | — | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
13.0Lowest |
— | 14.0 |
| 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.