Compare towns
Brunswick vs Dover 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 the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Dover | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336 |
33,364Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brunswick and Dover 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% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%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% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
| Dover 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. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% 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. |
$3,516Lowest 13% 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% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Dover School District | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.