Compare towns
Middleton vs Brewer vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% 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 | Middleton | Brewer | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816 |
9,652Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest 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+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 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+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest 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 | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middleton and Hanson 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #32 of 133 in ME | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Brewer Public Schools | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.