Compare towns
Brunswick vs Dover vs Topsham
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 people working from home (19.8%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Dover | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336 |
33,364Highest |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Dover and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 13% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 4% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dover 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 11% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brunswick and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Dover School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Dover Senior High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.