Compare towns
Brunswick vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Appleton | Mapleton | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6k about the ME average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$96,250±$15kHighest 29% above ME |
| Harpswell and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
| Brunswick and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756Highest 57% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 5% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.