Compare towns
Brunswick vs Harpswell vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Harpswell | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
5,046 |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$96,250±$15kHighest 29% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Harpswell and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Brunswick and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756Highest 57% above ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 5% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.