Compare towns
Brunswick vs Topsham vs South Portland
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 most kids (19.9% under 18).
South Portland has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | South Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
9,706Lowest |
26,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
40.9±2.1 9% below ME |
| Topsham and South Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
20.7%±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% |
51.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
8%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
$91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME |
$86,838±$7k 16% above ME |
| Topsham and South Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18k 22% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$441,200±$17kHighest 49% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100 29% above ME |
$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,812±$97Highest 59% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477Highest 47% above ME |
$4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
$4,359 44% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.6%±7.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and South Portland 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% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
58.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.5%±2.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| South Portland 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 | #52 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Arthur R. Gould Sch--LCYDC · South Portland Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | South Portland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.