Compare towns
Brunswick vs Thornton 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%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k 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 | Thornton | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
2,799Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Brunswick 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% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brunswick and Thornton 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% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Saco and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18k 9% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Brunswick and Thornton 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. |
$5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Thornton School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.