Compare towns
Brunswick vs Saco vs Ellsworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Saco has the highest household income ($92k).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Saco | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
20,819Highest |
8,657Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
43±2.4 4% below ME |
| Saco and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Ellsworth and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Brunswick and Ellsworth 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 ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
| Saco and Ellsworth 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 |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100Highest 29% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
| Brunswick and Saco 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 |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Brunswick 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Saco Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.