Compare towns
Hanson vs Brewer vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Hanson | Brewer | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
9,652Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,585Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #32 of 133 in ME | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Brewer Public Schools | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Brewer High School | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
14.0 |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.