Compare towns

Brunswick vs Franklin 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).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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.

MeasureBrunswickFranklinGorham
People
Population
22,336Highest
1,628Lowest
18,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%
ME: +2.6%
+5.7%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+11.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40±2.8
11% below ME
46±9.3Highest
about the ME average
39.4±2.9Lowest
12% below ME
Franklin and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2.2
ME: 18.1%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±3.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
Gorham and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±2.2
ME: 22.4%
25.6%±3.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Franklin and Brunswick 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
ME: 36.2%
28.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.3%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.3%±1.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.6Lowest
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±$6k
about the ME average
$65,455±$16kLowest
12% below ME
$112,312±$6kHighest
50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$15k
27% above ME
$245,800±$59kLowest
17% below ME
$460,900±$26kHighest
55% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$99
29% above ME
$888±$306Lowest
22% below 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
$2,231Lowest
27% below ME
$4,825Highest
59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±8.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
36.7%±27.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
37.9%±8.6
ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line
7.7%
ME: 10.7%
15.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
76.8%
ME: 74.3%
81.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
1984
7 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
5% below ME
29 minHighest
18% above ME
27 min
10% above ME
Work from home
19.8%±3.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
12.2%±5.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
19%±3.7
ME: 15.9%
Brunswick and Gorham 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 — #24 of 133 in ME
School district Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 — Gorham Public Schools
High school in town Brunswick High School — Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Lowest
—
12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.