Compare towns

Brunswick vs Proctor vs Sheldon

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%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureBrunswickProctorSheldon
People
Population
22,336Highest
1,794Lowest
2,267
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40±2.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.4±6.4Highest
9% above U.S.
40.9±3.5
5% above U.S.
Proctor and Sheldon 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%
21.8%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Proctor 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%
22.4%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brunswick and Proctor 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%
28.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.3%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,952±$6k
7% below U.S.
$74,167±$12kLowest
8% below U.S.
$78,533±$25kHighest
about the U.S. average
Sheldon and Brunswick 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.
$209,900±$17kLowest
37% below U.S.
$272,400±$61k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$99Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,029±$202Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,286±$379
9% below U.S.
Brunswick and Sheldon 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.
$4,032
29% above U.S.
$3,578Lowest
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.3%±16.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brunswick and Proctor 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%
16.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
11% below U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Brunswick and Sheldon 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 Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town Brunswick High School Proctor Junior/Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Highest
8.7Lowest
—
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.