Compare towns

Brunswick vs Rye 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

Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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.

MeasureBrunswickRyeWestbrook
People
Population
22,336Highest
5,611Lowest
20,775
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40±2.8
about the U.S. average
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
37.4±1Lowest
4% below U.S.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westbrook and Rye 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%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%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%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,952±$6kLowest
7% below U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$85,038±$7k
5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$15kLowest
13% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$383,300±$19k
15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$99
4% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,392±$74Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,756
52% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$4,005Lowest
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
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%
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
61.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
11% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye 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 #2 of 120 in NH #115 of 133 in ME
School district Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 Rye 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 Our Story 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.