Compare towns
Brunswick vs Gorham vs Middlesex vs West Bath
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 renters (28.8% rent).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Middlesex | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
18,300 |
1,943 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% 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% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest 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±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Middlesex 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. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
| Gorham and West Bath 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. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Gorham High School | None in town | 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 | 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.