Compare towns
Brunswick vs Dedham vs Saco vs Gorham
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 most people working from home (19.8%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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.
| Measure | Brunswick | Dedham | Saco | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
1,656Lowest |
20,819 |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 11% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
| Dedham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham 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 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
49.5% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| 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 about the ME average |
$111,442±$18k 49% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| Gorham and Dedham 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 |
$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 29% above ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
| Gorham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756 57% above ME |
$3,942Lowest 30% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Saco 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 5% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick and Saco 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Dedham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.