Compare towns

Brunswick vs Durham 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
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.

MeasureBrunswickDurhamGorham
People
Population
22,336Highest
4,262Lowest
18,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+8.4%
ME: +2.6%
+11.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40±2.8
11% below ME
42.6±5.9Highest
5% below ME
39.4±2.9Lowest
12% below ME
Durham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19.7%±4.6
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±3.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
Gorham and Durham 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%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
17.5%±2.5
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.3%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.3%±1.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.9%±3.1Lowest
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
$99,181±$5k
33% above ME
$112,312±$6kHighest
50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$15k
27% above ME
$322,200±$34kLowest
9% above ME
$460,900±$26kHighest
55% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$99Lowest
29% 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
$3,781Lowest
25% above ME
$4,825Highest
59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±8.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
25%±40.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
37.9%±8.6
ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line
7.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
4.2%
ME: 10.7%
3.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
95.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
81.5%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
5% below ME
28 minHighest
13% above ME
27 min
10% above ME
Work from home
19.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
20.9%±5.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
19%±3.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Durham 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 #14 of 133 in ME #24 of 133 in ME
School district Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 RSU 05 Gorham Public Schools
High school in town Brunswick High School 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

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.