Compare towns
Brunswick vs Thomaston vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has the youngest population (median age 40).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Thomaston | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
2,769Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6k about the ME average |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$271,700±$10kLowest 8% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
$1,262±$343 11% above ME |
$1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
| Brunswick and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756 57% above ME |
$4,487Lowest 48% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Thomaston and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
24 minHighest 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #99 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | RSU 13 | 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 |
ME 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.