Compare towns
Brunswick vs Westbrook vs Ellsworth vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Saco has the most homeowners (72.8%).
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 | Westbrook | Ellsworth | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,652 |
20,775 |
8,657Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% ME: +2.6% |
+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2 15% below ME |
37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
43±2.4 4% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
| Saco and Ellsworth 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% |
18.5%±2.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Westbrook and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Brunswick and Ellsworth 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% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
9%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
$85,038±$7k 14% above ME |
$77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
| Saco and Westbrook 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 |
$383,300±$19k 29% above ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
| Saco and Westbrook 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 |
$1,392±$74 22% above ME |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Brunswick and Westbrook 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 |
$4,005 32% above ME |
$3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2 ME: 48.4% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% ME: 10.7% |
8% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
66.7% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco 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 | #115 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Westbrook Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Westbrook High School | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.