Compare towns
Brunswick vs Nelson vs West Bath
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Nelson | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
648Lowest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bath and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 13% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Brunswick and Nelson 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and West Bath 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 11% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson School District | West Bath Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.