Compare towns
Brunswick vs Ogunquit vs Scarborough vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has the youngest population (median age 40).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Scarborough has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Scarborough | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,336 |
1,379Lowest |
23,215Highest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+17% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Brunswick and Saco 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
57.7% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Scarborough and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15kLowest 27% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 29% above ME |
— | $1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756 57% above ME |
$4,473Lowest 47% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.4% ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 133 in ME | — | #35 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | — | Scarborough Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | — | Scarborough High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 11.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.