Compare towns
Brunswick vs Durham vs Gorham
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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.
| Measure | Brunswick | Durham | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
15,080Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Highest about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Brunswick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
| Durham and Gorham 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Durham and Gorham 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. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Brunswick 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 11% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest 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 | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Oyster River Coop School District | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Oyster River High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.3 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.