Compare towns
Brunswick vs Gorham vs Townsend vs Saco
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 affordable homes ($376k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
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.
| Measure | Brunswick | Gorham | Townsend | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
18,300 |
9,100Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Townsend 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Gorham 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% 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% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 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±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Gorham 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. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Townsend 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. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% 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 | $4,756Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Gorham Public Schools | North Middlesex | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Gorham High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.9 |
13.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.