Compare towns
Brunswick vs Gorham vs Saco vs Harpswell
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 most affordable homes ($376k median).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Harpswell has the oldest population (median age 62).
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 | Saco | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
18,300 |
20,819 |
5,046Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 11% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest 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% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±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±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
| Gorham and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15kLowest 27% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 29% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,348±$53 18% 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 5% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.