Compare towns
Brunswick vs Topsham vs Westbrook vs Topsham
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 most homeowners (78.9%).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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.
| Measure | Brunswick | Topsham | Westbrook | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,652 |
9,706 |
20,775Highest |
7,271Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2 15% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
45.6±4.9Highest about the ME average |
| Topsham and Topsham 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% |
18.5%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham 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%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Topsham 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% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
9%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$85,038±$7k 14% above ME |
$100,024±$18kHighest 34% above ME |
| Topsham and Topsham 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 |
$383,300±$19k 29% above ME |
$388,500±$24kHighest 31% above ME |
| Topsham and Westbrook 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 |
$1,392±$74 22% 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 |
$4,259 40% above ME |
$4,005Lowest 32% above ME |
$4,431 46% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
46.1%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±14.5Lowest 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% |
8% ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
75% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
24 minHighest 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±2.8 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 | #115 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Westbrook Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | Westbrook High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
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.