Compare towns
Brunswick vs Bowdoinham 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%).
Bowdoinham has the most homeowners (93.8%).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
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 | Bowdoinham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
3,142Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
51.9±13.1Highest 16% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Bowdoinham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±6.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoinham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±6.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Brunswick and Bowdoinham 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% |
43.8% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
$108,479±$21kHighest 45% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18kLowest 22% above ME |
$405,500±$105k 37% above ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
| Saco and Bowdoinham 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 |
— | $1,249±$385Lowest 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 |
$2,958Lowest about the ME average |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2 ME: 48.4% |
100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.6% ME: 10.7% |
13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoinham and Saco 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 | #73 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.