Compare towns
Bath vs Brunswick vs Nelson
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 renters (35.7% rent).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Bath | Brunswick | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815 |
22,336Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
| Bath and Nelson 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% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$74,952±$6k 7% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$376,300±$15kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Brunswick and Nelson 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. |
$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
| Brunswick and Nelson 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. |
$4,756 52% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Brunswick 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 | #30 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Brunswick High School | None in town |
| 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.