Compare towns
Brunswick vs Appleton vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Saco has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
1,360Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Saco 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% |
16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and Brunswick 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5k 5% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18k 22% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100Highest 29% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477 47% above ME |
$3,588Lowest 18% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco 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 | #30 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.