Compare towns
Brunswick vs Gorham vs West Bath vs Freeport
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).
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 | West Bath | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
18,300 |
1,863Lowest |
8,802 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 11% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
| West Bath and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Freeport 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% |
29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| West Bath and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50.7% ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 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 |
$103,333±$27k 38% above ME |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
| Gorham and Freeport 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 |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
| Freeport and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 29% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
$1,439±$123 26% 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 |
$4,825 59% above ME |
$3,516Lowest 16% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport 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 | — | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Gorham Public Schools | West Bath Public Schools | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Gorham High School | None in town | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— | 12.2 |
| 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.