Compare towns

Brunswick vs Ogunquit vs Brewer 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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

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.

MeasureBrunswickOgunquitBrewerGorham
People
Population
17,652
1,379Lowest
9,652
18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+11.9%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
37.9±2.2Lowest
15% below ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
40.1±4.8
10% below ME
39.4±2.9
12% below ME
Kids under 18
16.1%±2.5
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±4.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±3.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
Age 65+
23%±2.4
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.4%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.3%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
35%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.3%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.4%±1.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
7.7%±2.9
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±$5k
5% below ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$66,613±$9kLowest
11% below ME
$112,312±$6k
50% above ME
Ogunquit and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,200±$18k
22% above ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$245,300±$21kLowest
17% below ME
$460,900±$26k
55% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,465±$100
29% above ME
—
$1,086±$54Lowest
5% below 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
$4,477
47% above ME
$4,473
47% above ME
$3,374Lowest
11% above ME
$4,825Highest
59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.8%±9.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
55.7%±13.3
ME: 48.4%
37.9%±8.6
ME: 48.4%
Brunswick and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
12.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.7%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.3%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
59.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
81.5%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
same as ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1959Lowest
18 yrs older than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
7% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
17 minLowest
31% below ME
27 minHighest
10% above ME
Work from home
18%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
19%±3.7
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 133 in ME — #32 of 133 in ME #24 of 133 in ME
School district — — Brewer Public Schools Gorham Public Schools
High school in town — — Brewer High School Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
14.0Highest
12.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.