Compare towns
Brunswick vs Kennebunk vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Kennebunk | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
11,820Lowest |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| 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 5% below ME |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| Gorham and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18kLowest 22% above ME |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100 29% above ME |
$1,425±$290Lowest 25% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
| Gorham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477Lowest 47% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 21 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Kennebunk High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.