Compare towns
Brunswick vs Windham vs Topsham
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%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
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 | Windham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
19,188Highest |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
| Topsham and Windham 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% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest 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% |
44.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Windham 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 |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
| Windham and Brunswick 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 |
$1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
| Brunswick and Topsham 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 |
$3,938Lowest 30% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Topsham 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 14 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.