Compare towns
Brunswick vs Ripton vs Saco
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 the youngest population (median age 40).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
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 | Ripton | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
508Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Saco and Ripton 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. |
— | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Saco 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.


