What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k 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.

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

Measure	Brunswick	Lisbon
People
Population	22,336Highest	1,583Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	46.4±5.7Highest 19% above U.S.
	Lisbon and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lisbon 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%	20.8%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brunswick and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,952±$6kHighest 7% below U.S.	$65,500±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Brunswick and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$15kHighest 13% above U.S.	$198,000±$19kLowest 40% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,344±$303Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Brunswick and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,756Highest 52% above U.S.	$4,691Lowest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.9%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brunswick and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	74.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 11% below U.S.	22 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10	Lisbon Regional School District
High school in town	Brunswick High School	Lisbon Regional School (High)
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	6.4Lowest
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.