Compare towns

Brunswick vs Calais vs Gorham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).

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.

MeasureBrunswickCalaisGorham
People
Population
22,336Highest
1,713Lowest
18,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40±2.8
about the U.S. average
42±8.6Highest
8% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Calais 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
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brunswick and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.3%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Brunswick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,952±$6kLowest
7% below U.S.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
Gorham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$15kLowest
13% above U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$99
4% above U.S.
$1,408±$392Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
Gorham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,756Lowest
52% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brunswick and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
11% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais 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 — #24 of 133 in ME
School district Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Gorham Public Schools
High school in town Brunswick High School None in town Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Lowest
—
12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.