What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brunswick	Sheldon
People
Population	22,336Highest	2,267Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	40.9±3.5Highest 5% above U.S.
	Sheldon and Brunswick 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%	23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,952±$6kLowest 7% 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.	$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,286±$379Lowest 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.	$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 11% below U.S.	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±3.7Lowest 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	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	Brunswick High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.