Compare towns
Brunswick vs Vinalhaven vs Saco
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%).
Vinalhaven has the oldest population (median age 65.1).
Saco has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Vinalhaven | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
1,216Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Saco 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% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.7% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
$72,963±$11k about the ME average |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
| Saco and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18kLowest 22% above ME |
$428,400±$44kHighest 44% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Vinalhaven and Saco 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 |
$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Brunswick and Saco 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 |
$3,598Lowest 19% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.6%±41.5 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Vinalhaven 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% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
24 minHighest 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Vinalhaven and Saco 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.