Compare towns
Brunswick vs Sheldon vs Harpswell
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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | Sheldon | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
2,267Lowest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$96,250±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 13% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,348±$53 5% below U.S. |
| Brunswick and Harpswell 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. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harpswell 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 | — | — |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| 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.