What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

Topsham has the highest household income ($91k).

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	9,706Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME	44.7±4Highest about the ME average
Kids under 18	16.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.9%±3.6Highest 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%	24.4%±3.2Highest 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	50%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME	$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,200±$18kHighest 22% above ME	$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME
	Brunswick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,465±$100Highest 29% above ME	$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME
	Brunswick and Topsham 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	$4,259Lowest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4%	40.3%±12.9Lowest 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%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 7% below ME	24 minHighest 4% below ME
Work from home	18%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Brunswick and Topsham 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
School district	—	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	—	Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
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.