Compare towns
Brunswick vs Dresden
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%).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Dresden |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 17,652Highest |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dresden and Brunswick 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% |
24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Dresden 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% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average |
| Dresden and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18kHighest 22% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100Highest 29% above ME |
$1,194±$502Lowest 5% above ME |
| Brunswick and Dresden 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 |
$2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.