What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has the oldest population (median age 40).

Durham has the highest household income ($124k).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brunswick	Durham
People
Population	22,336Highest	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±2.8Highest about the U.S. average	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
	Brunswick and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 11% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brunswick and Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Brunswick High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.