Compare towns
Brunswick vs Nelson 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
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
648Lowest |
20,775 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Brunswick 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% |
41.3%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% |
9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$85,038±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Westbrook 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 |
$383,300±$19kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Westbrook 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±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
| Brunswick and Westbrook 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. |
$4,005Lowest 28% 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% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Westbrook 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 11% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Nelson School District | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | None in town | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 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.