What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

Durham has the highest household income ($124k).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brunswick	Durham
People
Population	17,652Highest	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.9±2.2Highest about the U.S. average	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	16.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	23%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,722±$5kLowest 12% below U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,200±$18kLowest 9% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,465±$100Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
	Brunswick and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,477Lowest 44% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.8%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	18%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	—	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	51 photos →

U.S. 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.