Compare towns

Bath vs Barnstead vs Brunswick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
Brunswick has the youngest population (median age 40).

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.

MeasureBathBarnsteadBrunswick
People
Population
8,815
4,994Lowest
22,336Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±3Highest
17% above U.S.
42.8±3.1
10% above U.S.
40±2.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
Bath and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
Barnstead and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bath and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
13.3%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,390±$12kLowest
14% below U.S.
$111,660±$12kHighest
38% above U.S.
$74,952±$6k
7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$310,900±$30kLowest
7% below U.S.
$362,400±$25k
9% above U.S.
$376,300±$15kHighest
13% above U.S.
Brunswick and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$116Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,395±$75
about the U.S. average
$1,469±$99Highest
4% above U.S.
Brunswick and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847Lowest
23% above U.S.
$6,003Highest
92% above U.S.
$4,756
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±15.2
U.S.: 51.1%
47.6%±50.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brunswick and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
23 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brunswick and Bath 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 #31 of 133 in ME #111 of 120 in NH #30 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Barnstead School District Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10
High school in town Morse High School None in town Brunswick High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
—
10.9Lowest
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.