Compare towns
Brunswick vs Hanover vs Westbrook
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 oldest population (median age 40).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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.
| Measure | Brunswick | Hanover | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
11,685Lowest |
20,775 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Highest about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
37.4±1 4% below U.S. |
| Brunswick and Westbrook 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westbrook and Brunswick 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$85,038±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$383,300±$19k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 4% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,392±$74Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756 52% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest 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 | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Hanover High School | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
10.7Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.