What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brunswick	Augusta
People
Population	22,336Highest	19,077Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME
	Augusta and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Augusta and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4%	21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Brunswick and Augusta 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%	28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,952±$6kHighest about the ME average	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$15kHighest 27% above ME	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,756Highest 57% above ME	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Brunswick and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 5% below ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Brunswick and Augusta 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	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Brunswick High School	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	17.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.