Compare towns
Brunswick vs Gorham vs Jay
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Gorham | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
18,300 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 13% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$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 | $4,756 52% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Jay 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Brunswick 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.