What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k median).

Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brunswick	Hanover
People
Population	22,336Highest	11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±2.8Highest about the U.S. average	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brunswick and Hanover 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%	19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brunswick and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S.	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S.	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$99Lowest 4% above U.S.	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Brunswick 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%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 11% below U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover 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	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Brunswick High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.