Compare towns
Mars Hill vs Hampton Beach vs Brooks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Brooks has the most homeowners (74.6%).
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 | Mars Hill | Hampton Beach | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398 |
2,605Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mars Hill and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,273±$9k 19% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average |
$59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$196,700±$33k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,116±$112 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$2,096 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.6%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.0 |
— | — |
| 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.