Compare towns
North Hampton vs Brewer vs Ellsworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | North Hampton | Brewer | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
9,652Highest |
8,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 120 in NH | #32 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Brewer Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.