Compare towns
Brunswick vs Douglas vs West Bath
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Douglas | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
9,207 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
| Douglas and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 4% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756 52% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and West Bath 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 11% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Douglas | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.