Compare towns
Brunswick vs Durham vs Harpswell
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Durham | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
4,262Lowest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Durham 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 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
| Durham and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$322,200±$34kLowest 9% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
— | $1,348±$53Lowest 18% above ME |
| Brunswick and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756Highest 57% above ME |
$3,781 25% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 5% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Harpswell 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 | — |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.