What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).

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.

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

Measure	Brunswick	Dalton
People
Population	22,336Highest	6,256Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dalton and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dalton and Brunswick 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 U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S.	$79,438±$8kHighest about the U.S. average
	Dalton and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$15kHighest 13% above U.S.	$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S.	$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,756Highest 52% above U.S.	$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brunswick and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 11% below U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brunswick and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Brunswick High School	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9	10.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.