Compare towns
Brunswick vs Topsham vs Gorham vs Westbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Gorham | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,652 |
9,706Lowest |
18,300 |
20,775Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2 15% below ME |
44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
| Topsham and Gorham 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%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.5%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Topsham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±2.2 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% ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
9%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Brunswick and Gorham 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±$10k 22% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$85,038±$7k 14% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18k 22% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$383,300±$19k 29% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100 29% above ME |
$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,392±$74 22% above ME |
| Gorham 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 |
$4,259 40% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,005Lowest 32% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.1%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Westbrook 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Gorham Public Schools | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | Gorham High School | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
12.9Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.