Compare towns
Brunswick vs Gorham vs Middlesex vs Westbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Gorham | Middlesex | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,652 |
18,300 |
1,943Lowest |
20,775Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2 about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brunswick and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brunswick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$85,038±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$383,300±$19k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100 4% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477 44% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | None in town | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.