Compare towns
Brunswick vs Topsham vs Brunswick
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%).
Topsham has the highest household income ($91k).
Brunswick has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Topsham | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
9,706Lowest |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
40±2.8 11% below ME |
| Topsham and Brunswick 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2 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%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
50%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Brunswick and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME |
$74,952±$6k about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18k 22% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$376,300±$15kHighest 27% above ME |
| Brunswick and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100 29% above ME |
$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
| Brunswick and Brunswick 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 |
$4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
$4,756Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Brunswick 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% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
71.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick 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 | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.