Compare towns

Brunswick vs Jay vs Gorham 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 renters (28.8% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).

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.

MeasureBrunswickJayGorhamSaco
People
Population
22,336Highest
471Lowest
18,300
20,819
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40±2.8
about the U.S. average
52.1±10.5Highest
34% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
Jay and Saco 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%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Gorham 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%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.3%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9
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±$6k
7% below U.S.
$74,792±$25kLowest
7% below U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$15k
13% above U.S.
$234,200±$45kLowest
30% below U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$99
4% above U.S.
—
$1,680±$355Highest
19% 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
$4,756
52% above U.S.
$3,588Lowest
15% above U.S.
$4,825Highest
55% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
Brunswick and Saco 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%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
11% below U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Jay 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 #38 of 133 in ME
School district Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Gorham Public Schools Saco Public Schools
High school in town Brunswick High School None in town Gorham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Lowest
—
12.9Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.