Compare towns
Brunswick vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Westbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has the most people working from home (18%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Brunswick | Appleton | Mapleton | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,652 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
20,775Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2 15% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.5%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
9%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5k 5% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$85,038±$7k 14% above ME |
| Mapleton and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18k 22% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$383,300±$19kHighest 29% above ME |
| Westbrook and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100Highest 29% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,392±$74 22% above ME |
| Brunswick and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477Highest 47% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,005 32% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.1%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick and Westbrook 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 | #30 of 133 in ME | — | — | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.