Compare towns
Brunswick vs Old Orchard Beach 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).
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Old Orchard Beach | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
9,244Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest 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% |
33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
42.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6k about the ME average |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$366,600±$38kLowest 24% above ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
$1,246±$182Lowest 9% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756 57% above ME |
$3,426Lowest 13% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
24 minHighest 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick and Saco 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 | #67 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | — | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.