Compare towns
Brunswick vs Dunstable 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 renters (28.8% rent).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Dunstable | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
3,408Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Topsham 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%±2.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 13% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Brunswick and Topsham 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. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Brunswick 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% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Groton-Dunstable | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.