Compare towns
Brunswick vs Bristol
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%).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).
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 | Bristol |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 17,652Highest |
2,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Brunswick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
$100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18kLowest 22% above ME |
$406,400±$54kHighest 37% above ME |
| Bristol 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 |
$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477Highest 47% above ME |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 7% below ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol 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 | #16 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Bristol Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.