Compare towns
Brunswick vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Lee | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
4,576Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Saco 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% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brunswick and Lee 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% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Lee and Saco 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. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Lee and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100Highest 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Brunswick and Saco 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Saco 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.