Compare towns
Brunswick vs Gorham vs Rockland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).
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 | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
18,300 |
7,035Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 11% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
49.3±6Highest 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Rockland 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% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
35.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$56,533±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$245,800±$38kLowest 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 29% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,092±$105Lowest 4% below 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,059Lowest 34% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.6%±15.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Rockland and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
62%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1948Lowest 29 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
12 minLowest 50% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.1%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Rockland 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 | #96 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Gorham Public Schools | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Gorham High School | Oceanside High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.