Compare towns
Brunswick vs Ogunquit vs Brewer vs Topsham
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.
| Measure | Brunswick | Ogunquit | Brewer | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,652Highest |
1,379Lowest |
9,652 |
7,271 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.7% 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 |
45.6±4.9 about the ME average |
| 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%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5k 5% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
$100,024±$18k 34% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Topsham 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 |
$388,500±$24k 31% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100 29% above ME |
— | $1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
$1,491±$1kHighest 31% above ME |
| Topsham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477Highest 47% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
$4,431 46% 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% |
37.5%±14.5 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% |
5.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
75% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 133 in ME | — | #32 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | Brewer Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Brewer High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.0 |
— |
| 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.