Compare towns
Brunswick vs Topsham vs Freeport vs Gorham
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 most renters (28.8% rent).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Topsham | Freeport | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
9,706 |
8,802Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40±2.8 11% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
| Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Topsham 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% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brunswick and Gorham 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 about the ME average |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| Gorham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
| Freeport and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 29% above ME |
$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
| Gorham and Brunswick 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 |
$4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 5% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #4 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 05 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | Mt Ararat High School | Freeport High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.2 |
12.2 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.