Compare towns
Brunswick vs Keene vs Saco
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
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 | Keene | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652Lowest |
22,939Highest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Brunswick 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% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brunswick and Keene 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brunswick and Keene 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. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Saco and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18k 9% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Brunswick and Keene 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. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.