What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has the youngest population (median age 37.9).

Topsham has the highest household income ($100k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brunswick	Topsham
People
Population	17,652Highest	7,271Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+11.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME	45.6±4.9Highest about the ME average
Kids under 18	16.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.9%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Topsham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	25.6%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Topsham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME	$100,024±$18kHighest 34% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,200±$18kLowest 22% above ME	$388,500±$24kHighest 31% above ME
	Topsham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,465±$100Lowest 29% above 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	$4,431Lowest 46% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4%	37.5%±14.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Brunswick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	75%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 7% below ME	24 minHighest 3% below ME
Work from home	18%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Topsham 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	#66 of 133 in ME
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.