Compare towns
Brunswick vs Dedham vs Westbrook
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 most affordable homes ($376k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Dedham | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336 |
25,237Highest |
20,775Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Westbrook 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% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brunswick and Dedham 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$85,038±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$383,300±$19k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 4% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,392±$74Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756 52% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Dedham | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Dedham High | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
10.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.