What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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.

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

Measure	Brunswick	Fair Haven
People
Population	22,336Highest	2,724Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±2.8Highest about the U.S. average	39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average
	Brunswick and Fair Haven 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%	19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Fair Haven 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%	18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brunswick and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,952±$6kHighest 7% below U.S.	$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S.
	Brunswick and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$15kHighest 13% above U.S.	$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S.	$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,756Highest 52% above U.S.	$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brunswick and Fair Haven 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%	18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 11% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 133 in ME	#66 of 70 in VT
School district	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	Brunswick High School	Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 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.